Mar 3, 2006 7:52 pm US/Eastern
GWB At 75: High-Tech On The Hudson?
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
At 75, the GWB is actually quite hip with plenty of technology helping to keep everyone's commute a little smoother. In 1927, the technology used to build the massive GWB was state-of-the-art, and not the least bit high-tech by today's standards.
"You have to really keep in mind that this facility opened in 1931, started really breaking ground 1927 -- long before computers and CAD systems, things of that nature – technology, as you say, we sort of take for granted today," said Bob Durando, general manager of the George Washington Bridge.
With pen, paper and the power of the human brain, the GWB was built, and 75 years later it's stood the test of time.
"I mean it really is remarkable to consider what a man did, and that the facility is standing, and it's in as good a shape that it is," Durando said.
Today, there's plenty of technology at the George Washington. The most well-known and most popular is the electronic toll collection system E-ZPass.
"Seven of every 10 transactions at this facility is E-ZPass. When the folks who came up the idea of E-ZPass were designing this system, they talked in terms of 'Gee, if we had 40 percent market share in five years that would be great.' I think they had 40 percent market share on the first day," said Durando.
But E-ZPass isn't the only tech here to help keep you moving.
"The technology advances that we've made in the last seven to 10 years, specifically E-ZPass and the Intelligent Transportation Systems really enable us to give you a pretty good idea of what your trip is going to be like on a daily basis," said Durando.
At the nerve center of the George Washington Bridge, video from hundreds of cameras and data from dozens of sensors are fed here, 24 hours a day. But it's not a computer calling the shots for your commute.
Durando said, "The person staffing the desk can just turn around and get a snapshot of what traffic conditions are for the entire facility."
That information helps them make decisions on opening toll lanes, recommending the top or bottom deck -- or worse, clearing away an accident that may have just occurred before it becomes a problem.
What's ahead for the GWB? Expect that traffic tech to expand its reach.
"Over the next nine to 12 months Intelligent Transportation Systems will be in place at the Holland and Lincoln tunnels, so that not only will we give you choices for the GWB, but we'll be able to give you that reliability of ride by using another facility."
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