Crossing George Washington Bridge via Pedestrian Walkway


GWB Image

About George Washington Bridge
The George Washington Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge spanning the Hudson River in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City with the borough of Fort Lee in New Jersey.
Construction on the George Washington Bridge started in October 1927; the bridge was ceremonially dedicated on October 24, 1931, and opened to traffic the next day.
The George Washington Bridge measures 4,760 feet (1,450 m) long and has a main span of 3,500 feet (1,100 m). It had the longest main bridge span in the world at the time of its opening, and held this distinction until the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge in 1937.
As of 2016, the George Washington Bridge carried over 103 million vehicles per year, making it the world's busiest motor vehicle bridge.
  Last year in late November I made my trip to Dong Bang Grill at Fort Lee to have our luncheon with two friends of mine, and I reported this small adventure by saying that I avoided the taxicab service by using the public transportation such as NYC subway and the local bus between GWB terminal and Plaza West and East, Fort Lee.
Afterwards I became a little more adventurous, so I planned to use Pedestrian walkway between GWB terminal and Hudson terrace.. The distance from the entrance of the Pedestrian walkway and exit at the Hudson terrace is 1,067 meters, taking 20 minutes for walk, and the distance from the exit to the Grill will need about 15 minutes’ walking for 0.7 miles distance.
So this time I will use my legs only from and to GWB terminal to cross the bridge and then local walk in Fort Lee. The only public transportation will be NYC subway between 175th station at Bronx and 14th station at Chelsea. All my needs are a pair of walking shoes, a nice light walking dress, subway ticket and a few bucks as well as my credit card.
Now is the time for pre-walking preparation and review.

Prepartion for walking through GW Bridge Pedestrian Walkway and to the Dong Bang Grill in Fort Lee

This trip requires subway train from 14th St to 175th St, and then marching from the entrance at Cabrini Blvd, Manhattan, NY to the exit at Hudson Terrace, Fort Lee, NJ, and then walking down in normal pace from the Terrace southward to Bruce Reynolds Blvd westward, next to Palisade Ave southward until the sign of Dong Bang Grill is seen on the left.
The anticipated travel time anticipated is:
A line subway from 14th St to 175th St and then to Cabrini Blvd: 60 minutes
Crossing GW Bridge Pedestrian Walkway from entrance to exit: 25 to 30 minutes
Normal walk from Hudson Terrace to 1616 Palisade Ave: 15 to 20 minutes
So it will take from 100 minutes to 110 minutes according to my generous estimation

After leisurely lunch at the Grill, my return course from Dong Bang Grill to Chelsea apt is exactly the reverse direction. However I will have to be a little careful from the Grill to the Walkway entrance not to go to a wrong entry.
First I will take Palisade Ave north, then make the right turn (west) onto Bruce Reynolds Blvd, then make the left onto Hudson Terrance (north), and I must see the sign of the Walkway entrance. I am not certain if this is the same spot as New Jersey exit or located further north to the north end of the wide NJ turnpike. Remember you should never, ever enter your car to a wrong entry, esp, at the time of highway entry? However my legs are not equivalent to my car! I shall find it out at that time.
Next I have some maps needed for one way trip. Please see the following maps

Map 1: Line 1 subway from 14th St to 175th St


Map 2. Manhattan entrance of George Washington Bridge Pedestrian Walkway:: The pedestrian walk is misleading. GWB bus terminal-Fort Washington Ave S - W. 178th St - To pass Cabrini Blvd - GWB S Bridge Pedestrian Entrance.


Map 3: George Washington Bridge


Map 4: Corner of Cabrini Blvd and W 178th Street.


Map 5: GWB Pedestrian Walkway to 1616 Palisade Ave


Map 6 George Washington Bridge Sidewalk

Finally the day has come for me to cross GWB by walking on Pedestrian Walkway

Date: Dec 6, 2018
Military Time:: GWB bus terminal to depart 0945, Fort Lee exit 1025, Return to terminal 1045
Weather: Cloudy and moderately windy. High temp 39° F, Low temp 25° F
I left the Chelsea apartment, walked merely for two blocks to the 8th Ave and 14th St.
Line 1 subway train brought me to Station 175th St, where I got off and started to walk through the Connection to the GWB terminal station.

My city travel course

1. Line I subway entrance at 8th Ave and 14th St
2. Line I subway station at 175th St
3. Connection to GWB terminal station
4. GWB terminal station
5. Manhattan entrance to GWB Pedestrian Walkway
6. To pass Midpoint at GWB
7. NJ exit from Pedestrian Walkway
8. Hudson Terrace where I decided to make return to the GWB bus terminal, and to skip my city walk through Bruce Reynolds Blvd, Palisade Ave, and to Dong Bang Grill entrance on this inclement day.

My photos taken sequentiallly during the march across GWB on both ways

Photo 1-1; Terminal Entrance from Shuttle Stop


Photo 1-2:: Entrance from head-on view


Photo 1-3: Entrance across the 178th Street


Photo 1: GWB bus terminal, New York, NY 10033


Photo 2: Crossroad of W 178th St and Fort Washington Ave


Photo 3-1. From the crossroad of Ft Washington Ave to W 178th Street


Photo 3-2: Corner of W 178th St and Cabrini Blvd. At this point I was at a loss on how to enter the GWB on my last atttempt1 Now i had an answer on Photo 4..


Photo 4-1: South Entrnace to the GWB Ped Walkway


Photo 4-2: Beginning Ped/Bike Path


Photo 4-3: Triple Gates


Photo 4-4: Winding and ascending Path


Photo 5: GWB Pedestrian and Bike walkway


Photo 6: Hudson River seen over the south rail. Is it a video? I didn’t know that!


Photo 6-1: Approaching the first gate


Photo 7. Nearing the first suspension tower, protective nets seen. Another video.


Photo 8: Underneath the first bridge tower


Photo 9: The first photo of me


Photo 9-1. The Second Bridge Tower


Photo 10: East view of the exit of GWB.


Photo 11: West view of GWB exit
>

Photo 12. North view of Hudson Terrace at GWB exiit


Photo 13 Beginning my return march, it’s rough walking like an industrial structures.


Photo 14: First Bridge Tower


Photo 15: My second photo on return march


Photo 16: Second Bridge Tower


Phioti 17 Close-up view of the second west suspension tower


Photo 18: Nearing the end of the Manhattan side of the Walkway


Photo 19: The end of the bike and pedestrian path at W. 178 St


Photo 20: I landed at the beginning of West 178th Street


Photo 21: Walking to the GWB bus terminal




 

My thoughts

GWB offered bike-pedestrian paths on both north and south sides of the bridge, which seems to be meant for use of the people to walk or ride only, not for any tourists’ pleasure. They are simply narrow strips offered to these users on each side of the huge highway for fast-moving cars or behemoth vehicles. Therefore these are primarily planned for the use of daily livings for the citizens, not necessarily for the tourists, unlike the Brooklyn Bridge.

 Park 30-1.MOV