The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officially reopened the newly renovated South Walk of the George Washington Bridge on Thursday, October 15, following an extensive reconstruction project that provides pedestrians and cyclists with separate pathways across the Hudson River.

Under the new arrangement, pedestrians will exclusively use the South Walk, while cyclists will use the North Walk, eliminating the need for both groups to share the same pathway.

The upgraded 1.5-mile South Walk features wider, wheelchair-accessible ramps, improved lighting, enhanced security fencing, new signage, and viewing platforms offering panoramic views of the Hudson River. The improvements also include a new pedestrian entrance plaza on the New Jersey side, providing easier access to nearby Fort Lee Historic Park.

The walkway had been closed since February 2023 as part of the Port Authority’s $2 billion Restoring the George initiative, which includes major structural improvements to the bridge. The project involved replacing all 592 original steel suspender ropes, with that portion of the work completed in March 2025.

The North Walk previously reopened in 2023 following similar renovations.

Both walkways will now provide around-the-clock crossing access, although each will temporarily close on designated overnight periods for cleaning and maintenance. During those closures, pedestrians and cyclists will share the remaining open walkway.

The reopening marks another major milestone in the ongoing rehabilitation of the George Washington Bridge, one of the region’s most important transportation connections between New York and New Jersey.