What does it take to build a bridge across the widest section of the magnificent Hudson River? More than two million pounds of all-American steel was used to build the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, along with enough concrete to build a sidewalk from New York to Key West, Florida. Hop on your bike and join us on a bike ride along the new shared path across the Hudson River.
Take in the views and learn about the rich history of the Hudson Valley. The path covers three-point-six miles and is the longest of its kind in the nation. Six scenic overlooks are situated along the way, each with a unique theme and design developed in concert with the community. Learn about the region's unique geology, explore the area's shipping and sailing heritage and discover the local connection to the arts. Along the pathway, there's public art to explore, spectacular views and kiosks with more information.
This tour is presented by the New York State Thruway Authority and Historic Hudson River Towns.
Sample Stories
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The Cable-Stayed Main Span
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The visually striking main span before you is the bridge's signature feature.
Fully opened to traffic in twenty-eighteen, this cable-stayed bridge -- the first to span the Hudson -- is flanked by long approaches, and its main span establishes an iconic gateway to the majestic Hudson Valley.
Nearly two hundred geometrically aligned cables rise from the roadbed like the sails of a ship. Eight tapered towers--each four hundred nineteen feet tall--lean outward as they embrace the sky. The cables, or stays, are inclined to the same extent as the towers so that the main span becomes a valley through which each roadway passes.
More than seven thousand people helped build this bridge, which is supported by more than a thousand steel piles in the river, some reaching nearly four hundred feet deep. These piles would stretch fifty miles if laid end to end. Additionally, more than two hundred million pounds of American steel was used, along with enough concrete to build a sidewalk from here to Key West, Florida.
River Crossing
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You're approaching the River Crossing overlook, meaning you're approximately halfway to the other side of the bridge. If you'd like to dismount here, look for slots in the bench to park your bike.
People have been crossing the Hudson River for centuries, starting with Native Americans.
A regular ferry connection between Nyack and Tarrytown was established in eighteen thirty-four. During the next hundred years, while ferry service continued, plentiful road and rail connections to New York City helped Westchester County grow into a sizeable commuter suburb, while Rockland remained relatively isolated.
After the Second World War, increased automobile use led to a consensus that a new bridge was needed north of Manhattan. Opened in 1955, the Tappan Zee was the first permanent bridge in the U.S. to be supported in part by giant buoyant caissons. These eight airtight floating concrete boxes accommodated the rise and fall of the tide while providing stable foundational support. This innovative solution ultimately earned the Tappan Zee Bridge a place in the National Register of Historic Places.
But by two thousand-eleven, the Tappan Zee was nearing the end of its useful service life. Work began on its state-of-the-art successor in twenty-thirteen.
The canopies of this overlook were inspired by the lattice construction of the Tappan Zee Bridge, and the openings in the benches mimic the access openings used to install the thousands of rivets holding the lattice pieces together. These two structures "shake hands" near the midpoint of the river, celebrating the connectivity between the Nyacks and Tarrytown.
