Marvel at the Henry Hudson Bridge, a double-deck steel arch soaring above Spuyten Duyvil Creek. It stands as a testament to engineering ingenuity. This iconic structure links the Bronx and Manhattan.
The Henry Hudson Bridge wasn’t always a sure thing. Proposed as early as 1906, it faced opposition from Spuyten Duyvil residents. They feared it would ruin Inwood Hill Park and cause traffic jams. Robert Moses championed the bridge. He got the land for free and used federal labor.
David B. Steinman designed the Henry Hudson Bridge. His 1911 Ph.D. thesis in civil engineering served as inspiration. The bridge commemorates Henry Hudson’s voyage on the Half Moon in 1609. When it opened in 1936, it was the world’s longest plate girder arch bridge.
Initially, the Henry Hudson Bridge had only one deck. It opened on December 12, 1936. The upper level was added later opening on May 7, 1938. Toll revenue funded the second deck. The bridge’s construction spurred development in Riverdale.
The Henry Hudson Bridge features two levels with six traffic lanes. There is also a pedestrian walkway. It is part of the Henry Hudson Parkway, also known as New York State Route 9A. Amtrak trains use the nearby Spuyten Duyvil Bridge to Albany. The Spuyten Duyvil Metro-North station sits under the bridge on the Bronx side.
In 2000, a major rehabilitation project began. Steinman’s successor firm carried out the repairs. The repairs took over a decade costing 160 million dollars. Another renovation occurred from 2017 to 2020. This 86-million-dollar project improved the bridge’s structure.
Originally, the Henry Hudson Bridge cost ten cents to cross. In 2011, it became the pilot site for open road tolling. Toll booths were removed and drivers without E-ZPass receive a bill by mail. Cashless tolling began in November 2012. The tollbooths were dismantled in 2016.
The Henry Hudson Bridge has been painted several colors. It was originally forest green to blend with the parks. Later, it was aluminum gray and medium blue. Now, it’s gray.
The Henry Hudson Bridge stretches 2,208 feet. Its main span is 841 feet long. It provides 143 feet of clearance below. Today, over 60,000 cars cross the bridge daily. It has evolved from a leisurely route to a vital transportation link. The Henry Hudson Bridge stands as an enduring symbol of New York City’s progress.