“Named in honor of Henry Hudson” is how the story of this majestic structure begins. I am referring to the Henry Hudson Bridge. The explorer’s ship, the Half Moon, anchored near this very site in 1609. Imagine that moment.
This bridge officially opened in 1936. It was built as part of the Henry Hudson Parkway. The Henry Hudson Parkway Authority oversaw its construction. When the Henry Hudson Bridge first opened, it was the longest plate girder arch and fixed arch bridge in the world. What an achievement.
Originally, only one level existed. But the design allowed for a second level. This foresight addressed future traffic demands. Within a year and a half, the upper level opened. Northbound traffic uses the upper level. Southbound traffic uses the lower level. Think of the planning that went into this.
After a series of mergers, the Henry Hudson Parkway Authority became part of the Triborough Bridge Authority in 1941. The Henry Hudson Bridge remains one of Bridges and Tunnels’ facilities today. However, New York City and New York State now have jurisdiction over the parkway. This division of responsibility reflects the bridge’s importance to both city and state.
To the north are Spuyten Duyvil and Riverdale. These residential communities feature single-family homes, wooded estates, and large apartment complexes. They all share breathtaking views. These views stretch from the sloping shoreline of the Hudson River to the Harlem Ship Canal. Can you picture that serene landscape?
On the Manhattan end, the Henry Hudson Bridge connects to Inwood Hill Park. This park is Manhattan’s last remaining natural woodland. The residential community of Inwood borders it. The park offers a green escape from the urban environment.
David B. Steinman designed the Henry Hudson Bridge. He drew upon his 1911 Ph.D. thesis in civil engineering from Columbia University. His academic work directly influenced the bridge’s design. The bridge has two roadway levels with six traffic lanes and a pedestrian walkway. This design efficiently carries traffic and accommodates pedestrians.
Spuyten Duyvil Creek is just east of where the tidal strait meets the Hudson River. The Spuyten Duyvil Metro-North station sits under the bridge on the Bronx side. Nearby, the Spuyten Duyvil Bridge carries Amtrak trains to Albany.
A bridge at this location was proposed as early as 1906. However, residents and civic groups opposed it. They argued that it would destroy Inwood Hill Park and increase traffic. Robert Moses favored the Hudson River route. He received the land for free and used federal labor to build the parkway. This decision shaped the landscape we see today.
The original single-deck structure cost $4.949 million. The American Bridge Company built it. The second deck cost $2 million. Toll revenue funded it. The bridge’s construction opened the Riverdale neighborhood to development. It facilitated growth and accessibility.
A rehabilitation project began in 2000. Steinman, Boynton, Gronquist and Birdsall carried it out. This firm is a successor to David B. Steinman’s original company. Repairs continued for about a decade. They cost $160 million. From late 2017 to late 2020, another renovation project took place. This $86 million project replaced the last remnants of the original decks. It also reopened the pedestrian path and upgraded lighting.
The original toll was 10 cents. In January 2010, the MTA announced a pilot program to phase out toll booths. On January 20, 2011, this pilot project began. The new tolling system was implemented on November 10, 2012. On November 20, 2016, the tollbooths were dismantled. Cameras and E-ZPass readers now handle toll collection.