Goethals Bridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Goethals Bridge
Aerial view of the Goethals Bridge (top left) with the Arthur Kill Vertical Lift Bridge at bottom right
Coordinates	40°38′10″N 74°11′49″W / 40.636°N 74.197°W / 40.636; -74.197
Carries	6 lanes of I-278 (3 in each direction), pedestrians, and cyclists
Crosses	Arthur Kill
Locale	Elizabeth, New Jersey and Howland Hook, Staten Island, New York, United States
Maintained by	Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
ID number	3800072
Characteristics
Design	Cantilever bridge (Original) dual-span cable-stayed twin bridge (New span)
Total length	7,109 ft (2,167 m)
Width	62 ft (19 m)
Longest span	672 ft (205 m)
Clearance above	14 ft (4.3 m)
Clearance below	140 ft (43 m)
History
Opened	June 29, 1928; 96 years ago (1928-06-29) (original span) June 10, 2017; 7 years ago (2017-06-10) (new eastbound span) May 21, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-05-21) (new westbound span)
Closed	June 9, 2017; 7 years ago (2017-06-09) (original span)
Statistics
Daily traffic	82,852 (2016)
Toll	(Eastbound only) As of August 29, 2019: Cars $15.00 (cash) $12.50 for Peak (E-ZPass) $10.50 for Off-peak (E-ZPass) $6.50 (when carpooling with three or more people with NY and NJ E-ZPass only) $6.25 (New York or New Jersey issued E-ZPass with registered commuter plan and three or more trips into Staten Island, NY during a calendar month) (Peak hours: Weekdays: 6-10 a.m., 4-8 p.m.; Sat. & Sun.: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.)

The Goethals Bridge is a cantilever bridge that connects Elizabeth, New Jersey and Staten Island, New York. It was designed by John Alexander Low Waddell, who also designed the Outerbridge Crossing, and built by the Port of New York Authority (now the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey). It opened on June 29, 1928, the same day that the Outerbridge Crossing opened. It was named after George Washington Goethals, who looked over the construction of the Panama Canal and was the first consulting engineer of the Port Authority.

The bridge of one of three bridges that connect Staten Island with New Jersey. The other bridges are the Outerbridge Crossing and the Bayonne Bridge in Bayonne, New Jersey.

The bridge was replaced in 2018 with a pair of cable stayed bridges and the old bridge was demolished soon after. The new bridge currently has pedestrian and bicycle access, which the old one lacked.

Images for kids

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  The Original Goethals Bridge, seen from Staten Island in 2004

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  Bridge partially demolished, January 2018

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  A 2007 3D rendering of one proposed replacement bridge

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  A diagram comparing the four replacement alternatives and their position relative to the old bridge

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  From the new eastbound bridge, looking westward