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George Washington Bridge

New York, New York

Completed October 1931

 

"An essential part of the human experience is to create an aesthetic atmosphere."

 

The George Washington Bridge represented a departure in suspension bridge design. Chief Engineer O.H. Ammanndeveloped a system of stiffening trusses that offered greater flexibility and saved the project nearly $10 million. Initially, just six of the upper eight lanes were paved, but Ammann designed the bridge to easily accommodate a future lower level.

 

Swiss-born O.H. Ammann (1879-1965) was Chief Engineer for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey during the bridge's construction.

For more information on civil engineering history, go to www.asce.org/history.

 

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Uploaded on August 21, 2008
Taken on August 21, 2008