Bear Mountain Bridge Turns 100
HIGHLAND, NY — A true engineering marvel of the 1920s has now entered its second century of service — the Bear Mountain Bridge is officially 100 years old.
NYSBA marked the occasion with a brief ceremony on Nov. 24 that featured a brass quintet from the West Point Band and a ceremonial motorcade with cars and motorcycles from throughout the decades. As a homage to the original dedication ceremony in 1924, a new centennial plaque was unveiled that will be installed on the side of the bridge’s Administration Building. This new plaque celebrates the Bear Mountain Bridge, honoring “the innovators who built it, the hard working men and women who maintain it, and the people who cross it every day.”
The Bear Mountain Bridge was originally dedicated on Nov. 26, 1924 and opened to the general public a day later on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, 1924. It was a groundbreaking engineering achievement for its time, as the first Hudson River vehicular bridge in the region and the first suspension bridge with a concrete deck. For a brief period, it also held the title of “bridge with the longest suspended central span in the world.” Many consider the innovations with the Bear Mountain Bridge to have spurred a boom in bridge building in New York State and the entire country in the years following.
The bridge was originally built by a private enterprise, the Bear Mountain Hudson River Bridge Company. It was constructed in less than two years without a single loss of life. In September 1940, the New York State Bridge Authority acquired the bridge, making it NYSBA’s southernmost bridge.
In 2018, the span received the ceremonial designation of Purple Heart Veterans Memorial Bear Mountain Bridge. Today, the bridge is often considered a symbol of the Hudson Valley and is among the region’s most photographed structures. It serves as the Hudson River crossing for the Appalachian Trail and as a gateway to nearby state parks and recreational lands, Bridge Authority officials stated.
New York State Bridge Authority Executive Director Dr. Minosca Alcantara said, “Right on the cusp of this year’s Thanksgiving holiday, the Bridge Authority gives thanks for 100 years of this magnificent bridge! We are equally grateful to the staff, past and present, who have meticulously cared for this span over the years, ensuring it can stand strong ten decades later.”
New York State Bridge Authority Board of Commissioners Chair Joan McDonald added, “A symbol of human ingenuity, the Bear Mountain Bridge was the forerunner of many suspension bridges in the region and beyond. The Board of Commissioners is honored to be a part of this incredible milestone and is committed to maintaining this iconic structure for generations to come.”
Leadership from partner agencies also joined the day’s activities celebrating this momentous occasion, including New York State Parks Commissioner Pro Tem Randy Simons, who said, “Congratulations to the Bear Mountain Bridge, a nationally important feat of engineering and construction, for reaching this impressive milestone. I commend the New York Bridge Authority for its work to preserve and celebrate this distinctive piece of New York’s heritage, and look forward to a continued partnership with our agency to help people access and enjoy so many beloved destinations in the Hudson Valley.”
The New York State Bridge Authority operates the Bear Mountain, Newburgh-Beacon, Mid-Hudson, Kingston-Rhinecliff and Rip Van Winkle Bridges. It also owns and maintains the structure of the Walkway Over the Hudson pedestrian bridge. The authority receives no operating funding through state or federal tax dollars, with nearly all of its revenue coming through tolls. Tolls are reinvested back into capital improvements on the authority’s spans, ensuring these critical pieces of infrastructure can continue serving the Hudson Valley for decades to come.
