George Washington Bridge South Walk Reopens in $2B Restoration Program

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reopened the rebuilt South Walk on the George Washington Bridge on October 15, completing the eighth of 11 projects in its $2 billion Restoring the George program and giving pedestrians and cyclists separate paths across the Hudson for the first time in years Construction Dive.

What Happened

The agency held a ceremony on Thursday, October 15, to open the renovated walkway on the south side of the span Construction Dive. Under the new arrangement, pedestrians use the South Walk and cyclists use the North Walk, which the Port Authority revamped and reopened in 2023 Streetsblog NYC. CBS New York reported that the split took effect beginning Friday, October 16 CBS New York.

The South Walk had been closed since February 2023 so crews could replace the bridge's suspender ropes, and during that time pedestrians and cyclists shared the North Walk ROI-NJ. The walkway runs about 1.5 miles CBS New York.

The Suspender Rope Contract

The walkway rebuild was tied to the largest single piece of the restoration program: replacing all 592 steel suspender ropes that hold up the bridge deck ROI-NJ. Skanska held the $452 million contract for the rope replacement, which also covered rebuilding the 1.5-mile pedestrian path Construction Dive. Rope work started in September 2018, was carried out while the bridge stayed open to traffic, and was finished in March 2025 ROI-NJ.

David Murawski, senior vice president of operations at Skanska USA Civil, told Construction Dive that the team built hoisting systems that could be used "with no disruption to normal bridge traffic," and that the sidewalk had to come out first because the rope anchor points sat beneath it Construction Dive. Skanska is expected to remain on site for several more months to remove temporary conduit and finish additional electrical work Construction Dive.

What Was Built

• Accessible approaches. The approach paths are up to 14 feet wide with grades no steeper than 5 percent, and they meet ADA requirements from street level to the main span ROI-NJ. Streetsblog noted the new winding ramp replaced a hairpin approach Streetsblog NYC.
• New York side. A widened approach at Cabrini Boulevard and West 178th Street and a new staircase to an open-air viewing platform ROI-NJ.
• New Jersey side. An expanded entry plaza along Hudson Terrace, a new crosswalk and access to Fort Lee Historic Park ROI-NJ.
• Safety and wayfinding. Enhanced security fencing, pavement markings, improved lighting, signage and widened chokepoints around the towers ROI-NJ. CBS New York reported the fencing is 11 feet high CBS New York.

Advocates noted limits. Streetsblog reported that most of the main span path is the same size as the original, that several blind corners remain, and that the group Complete George measures the walkways at less than seven feet wide between the shielded cables Streetsblog NYC. Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia said the design was "driven by what the engineering allowed" Streetsblog NYC.

Operations and Demand

The bridge will keep at least one path open around the clock. Each walk closes for cleaning from 12:01 a.m. to 4:45 a.m. two nights a week on a staggered schedule, the South Walk on Mondays and Thursdays and the North Walk on Tuesdays and Fridays, with users directed to the open path ROI-NJ. More than 637,000 trips crossed the North Walk in 2025, about 55 percent by cyclists ROI-NJ, and Streetsblog put typical use at roughly 2,000 bike and walking trips a day Streetsblog NYC.

Where Things Stand

Restoring the George began in 2013 Construction Dive, and work is expected to continue up to the bridge's centennial in about five years Streetsblog NYC. Recently completed phases include replacement of roadway finger joints and 32 deck panels at the towers, upper level eastbound pavement rehabilitation and ramp work at 178th and 179th streets Construction Dive.

Two projects are underway: rehabilitation of the Center Avenue and Lemoine Avenue bridges, lower level steel rehabilitation and replacement of movable maintenance platforms. The final planned package covers components of six bridges over the Trans-Manhattan Expressway at Fort Washington, Broadway, Wadsworth, St. Nicholas, Audubon and Amsterdam avenues Construction Dive.

Implications for Owners, Developers, Contractors and Subs

• Live traffic work is the standard. The rope job ran for more than six years on an open bridge. Means and methods that keep facilities operating are now a core expectation on major rehab bids.
• Accessibility drives scope. ADA-compliant ramps, plazas and crossings were a large share of the visible work, a reminder that access upgrades can reshape the footprint of an otherwise structural project.
• More packages are coming. The remaining Trans-Manhattan Expressway bridge work is still ahead, which keeps steel, concrete, electrical and traffic control opportunities in the pipeline. Statewide, active bicycle and pedestrian funding, such as the recent $97 million in TAP awards, shows the same demand for safer non-motorized routes.

What to Watch

• Completion of Skanska's remaining electrical and conduit removal work.
• Progress on the Center Avenue and Lemoine Avenue bridges and the lower level steel.
• Procurement for the final Trans-Manhattan Expressway bridge package.
• Whether pressure for full 24/7 separated access changes the nightly cleaning schedule.

Bottom Line

With the South Walk open, the Port Authority has eight of 11 Restoring the George projects behind it and the largest component, the rope replacement, complete. The rest of the program will keep crews on and around the bridge for years as it approaches 100.

Related Coverage

• New York Awards $97 Million for 35 Sidewalk and Trail Projects Statewide
• $54.4M Seismic Retrofit Underway on South Grand Island Bridges
• Skanska Books $418 Million in School and University Construction Contracts

Image credit: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, renovated South Walk of the George Washington Bridge. Image from the source article.

Sources

• Construction Dive, "13-year, $2B NYC bridge rehab completes 8th of 11 projects": https://www.constructiondive.com/news/nyc-george-washington-bridge-rehab-completes-8th-11-projects/833265/
• ROI-NJ, "Port Authority reopens renovated South Walk on George Washington Bridge": https://www.roi-nj.com/2026/10/16/transportation/port-authority-reopens-renovated-south-walk-on-george-washington-bridge/
• Streetsblog NYC, "Cyclists and Pedestrians Finally Get Their Own Paths on the George Washington Bridge": https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2026/10/16/cyclists-and-pedestrians-finally-get-their-own-paths-on-the-george-washington-bridge-except-at-night
• CBS New York, "George Washington Bridge's pedestrian South Walk reopening": https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/george-washington-bridge-pedestrian-south-walk-reopens/