Antique cars were part of the 90th birthday party
FORT MONTGOMERY – The New York State Bridge Authority celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Bear Mountain Bridge Saturday, using the opportunity to announce upcoming bridge related projects. In addition to the bridge’s 90th, the NYSBA concurrently celebrated its 75th anniversary of owning the bridge as well as announced the upcoming establishment of the Hudson Valley Bridge Museum.
The centerpiece for the new museum will be the Bear Mountain Bridge, since it was the first automobile accessible bridge crossing the Hudson River between New York City and Albany.
The Bear Mountain Bridge was also the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was built in November of 1924 by the Harriman family in efforts to ease traffic flow going into and out of the Bear Mountain Park that was steadily increasing in its tourist visitation. Some descendants of the original Harriman family even came out to the ceremony Saturday.
Bridge Authority Executive Director Joseph Ruggiero said the Bear Mountain Bridge and other Hudson Valley historic bridges helped to shape the region’s economy.
“It was a privately owned and constructed bridge at the time and it totally changed the complexion of the Valley, made the ease of transportation crossing the river and transportation economics; it just totally changed the dynamic of the Hudson Valley,” said Ruggiero.
He said the Hudson Valley Bridge Museum will help draw attention to the significant impacts these bridges have made to the region. Part of the plan to go with the museum is to place decorative plaques on all of the featured Hudson Valley bridges that will chronicle the history of each.
“As we develop the Hudson Valley Bridge Museum, we’re going to be installing these interpretive signs on all the bridges throughout our system so folks really learn to appreciate the history and it’s not lost in the pages of some old newspapers,” said Ruggerio.
