On June 29, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that it will light the majestic George Washington Bridge’s two 604-foot lattice steel towers every night until 10:00 pm, complementing the nightly lighting of its cable lights. The permanent tower lighting, which begins at dusk, marks the Port Authority’s celebration of the nation’s 250th Birthday this year and was made possible by the installation of new energy-efficient LED lights on the 94-year-old bridge’s towers.
The George Washington Bridge (GWB), which was the world’s longest main bridge span when it opened and remains a feat of engineering copied and studied around the world, has never lit its towers permanently since it was built in 1927 and opened to traffic in 1931. Nearly 800 traditional lightbulbs were installed in 2000 and were lit only for major holidays and special events. With all the traditional lightbulbs replaced with new energy-efficient lights by the end of 2025, the Port Authority will permanently light the New York and New Jersey towers for the nation’s 250th Birthday.
The GWB is a double-decked suspension bridge spanning the Hudson River, connecting Manhattan with Fort Lee, New Jersey. It serves as a vital international gateway, providing primary access to New York City. With a length of 4,760 feet and a center span of 3,500 feet, the bridge channels millions of global travelers and billions of dollars in freight into the region each year. It carries approximately 284,000 to 300,000 vehicles per day (over 100 million vehicles annually) and is the busiest motor vehicle bridge in the world.
It directly connects to the region’s major global aviation hubs, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). It provides a direct route for international visitors landing in New Jersey to reach Manhattan and beyond. As a core link for Interstate 95, it funnels essential goods from the East Coast’s busiest seaports into the economic heart of the Northeast.
The George Washington Bridge is a testament to New York City’s unremitting ambition, economic dominance, and engineering mastery. As you crest the upper level of the GWB, the Manhattan skyline suddenly unfolds before you, and you realize the bridge is so much more than just a massive structure of steel and concrete. It is the literal front door to a city, drawing millions of people together into one incredibly crowded, loud, animated, and energetic place.
It is a city with a diversity that stems from its historic role as the gateway to the United States, shaped by iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island—a city with continued importance as an entry point for new immigrants, as demonstrated by the fact that over 700 languages are spoken across its five boroughs.
The Port Authority replaced all 156 necklace lights on the GWB, which refer to the lights on the handrail ropes of the bridge cables, with LED bulbs in 2009 when the bridge became the first in the region to fully convert its necklace lights to LED. In late 2025, the tower lights were upgraded to 600-watt LED bulbs from 1,000-watt traditional bulbs, which represent cost and energy savings of 40 percent.
The tower lights will remain off at all hours during peak migratory bird seasons, which in this region occur in spring from mid-March through mid-April and in fall from late August through mid-November.
