The George Washington Bridge: Poetry in Steel

Since opening in 1931, the George Washington Bridge, linking New York and New Jersey, has become the busiest bridge in the world, with 103 million vehicles crossing it in 2016. Many people also consider it the most beautiful bridge in the world, yet remarkably little has been written about this majestic structure. Intimate and engaging, this revised and expanded edition of Michael Rockland's rich narrative presents perspectives on the GWB, as it is often called, that span history, architecture, engineering, transportation, design, the arts, politics, and even post-9/11 mentalities. This new edition brings new insight since its initial publication in 2008, including a new chapter on the infamous "Bridgegate" Chris Christie-era scandal of 2013, when members of the governor's administration shut down access to the bridge, causing a major traffic jam and scandal and subsequently helping undermine Christie's candidacy for the US presidency. Stunning photos, from when the bridge was built in the late 1920s through the present, are a powerful complement to the bridge's history. Rockland covers the competition between the GWB and the Brooklyn Bridge that parallels the rivalry between New Jersey and New York City. Readers will learn about the Swiss immigrant Othmar Ammann, an unsung hero who designed and built the GWB, and how a lack of funding during the Depression dictated the iconic, uncovered steel beams of its towers, which we admire today. There are chapters discussing accidents on the bridge, such as an airplane crash landing in the westbound lanes and the sad story of suicides off its span; the appearance of the bridge in media and the arts; and Rockland's personal adventures on the bridge, including scaling its massive towers on a cable. Movies, television shows, songs, novels, countless images, and even PlayStation 2 games have aided the GWB in becoming a part of the global popular culture. This tribute will captivate residents living in the shadow of the GWB, the millions who walk, jog, bike, skate, or drive across it, as well as tourists and those who will visit it someday. .

Table of Contents:
Contents  1.         Growing up With the G.W.B.: An Introduction  2.         A Day on the George Washington Bridge      3.        The George and the Brooklyn: New Jersey and New York  4.        Othmar Ammann  5.        Building the Bridge  6.        The Accidental Icon  7.        The "Martha"  8.        The George Washington Bridge in Literature  9.        The G.W.B.  in the Other Arts  10.      Life Along the Walkways  11,      Dangers, Disasters, and Tragedies  12,       Bridgegate  13.      The G.W.B. and Me Acknowledgments Notes About the Author Selected Bibliography Index  

About the Author :
Michael Aaron Rockland is a professor of American studies at Rutgers, New Brunswick. He is the author or coauthor of many books, including Looking for America on the New Jersey Turnpike (Rutgers University Press), listed by the State Library as one of the ten best books ever written about New Jersey, and the novel A Bliss Case, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. Rockland is also a regular contributor to New Jersey Monthly magazine.

Review :
"Like the magnificent bridge it honors, this book is graceful, intelligently composed, elegant, durable, and solid as steel."  — Phillip Lopate, author of Waterfront: A Walk Around Manhattan "The George Washington Bridge: Poetry in Steel is a well-rounded tribute to a national landmark. The author weaves together history, popular culture, behind-the-scenes tours, and personal insight in his living portrait of a modern marvel."   — Darl Rastorfer, author of Six Bridges: The Legacy of Othmar H. Ammann Leonard Lopate at Large on WBAI Radio in New York: Michael Aaron Rockland on his latest book The George Washington Bridge: Poetry in Steel  https://soundcloud.com/leonard-lopate/michael-aaron-rockland-on-his-latest-book-the-george-washington-bridge-poetry-in-steel-1920— "Leonard Lopate at Large" "An essential book about what the professor rightly argues is America's most important bridge."— Newark Star-Ledger Old Ways in NJ, guest Michael Aaron Rockland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfYtiz2F_bs— EB-TV "A special afternoon with Morristown scholar Michael Rockland: 'The George Washington Bridge: Poetry in Steel,' March 22"— Morristown Green "A definitive history and cultural study of the span."— New Jersey Monthly "Like the magnificent bridge it honors, this book is graceful, intelligently composed, elegant, durable, and solid as steel."  — Phillip Lopate, author of Waterfront: A Walk Around Manhattan Leonard Lopate at Large on WBAI Radio in New York: Michael Aaron Rockland on his latest book The George Washington Bridge: Poetry in Steel  https://soundcloud.com/leonard-lopate/michael-aaron-rockland-on-his-latest-book-the-george-washington-bridge-poetry-in-steel-1920— "Leonard Lopate at Large" "An essential book about what the professor rightly argues is America's most important bridge."— Newark Star-Ledger "A special afternoon with Morristown scholar Michael Rockland: 'The George Washington Bridge: Poetry in Steel,' March 22"— Morristown Green Old Ways in NJ, guest Michael Aaron Rockland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfYtiz2F_bs— EB-TV "A definitive history and cultural study of the span."— New Jersey Monthly "The George Washington Bridge: Poetry in Steel is a well-rounded tribute to a national landmark. The author weaves together history, popular culture, behind-the-scenes tours, and personal insight in his living portrait of a modern marvel."   — Darl Rastorfer, author of Six Bridges: The Legacy of Othmar H. Ammann