Bear Mountain Bridge Celebrates 95th

The first Hudson Valley bridge to support automobile traffic between Albany and New York City celebrates its 95th birthday. The Bear Mountain Bridge was opened to the public on November 27, 1924, which was Thanksgiving Day.

According to a post from the Putnam History Museum, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at its time of opening, more than 30 feet longer than the Williamsburg Bridge. Bear Mountain Bridge measures out to 2,255 feet and was built at a cost of $2.9 million.

The bridge was initially built due to the popularity of nearby Bear Mountain State Park and the ferry boats in use at the time could not handle the traffic. The techniques used in construction of the parallel wire suspension bridge would later be used on the George Washington and Golden Gate Bridges.

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