Categories: This Day

March 26, 1879 – Othmar Ammann, NYC bridge designer, is born

Othmar Ammann may not be a familiar name to most, but if you live in the greater NYC area, you’ve likely been affected by his engineering. Born in Switzerland on this day in 1879, Ammann went on to study engineering in Zurich. By 1904 he had moved to the United States. Not long after, he earned recognition in the field of bridge design engineering for his studies of collapsed bridges

. By 1925 he found himself as bridge engineer for the Port of New York. While there he submitted a design for a bridge that would span the Hudson River, as did his mentor, Gustav Lindenthal. While Lindenthal’s bridge called for 16 lanes that’d accommodate cars, trains and pedestrians, the port chose Ammann’s less intricate design, primarily due to costs.

Above: A bust of Othmar Ammann. By Wheeler Williams. Top: George Washington Bridge looking south from NY. By Jim Harper, CC BY-SA 2.5

Construction on the new bridge, connecting Manhattan with Fort Lee, NJ, began September 21, 1927. When it opened on October 24, 1931, it was christened the George Washington Bridge. The bridge’s lower level opened in 1962, three years before Ammann passed away at age 86.

Ammann designed and engineered many other famous bridges in the area. His works include the Bayonne Bridge, Triborough Bridge, Bronx-Whitestone Bridge and the Walt Whitman Bridge. He also directed the planning and construction of the Lincoln Tunnel. The tunnel connects Midtown Manhattan and Weehawken, New Jersey, passing under the Hudson River. In 1964, one year before he died, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge that connects Staten Island and Brooklyn, which he designed

, opened.
Construction of the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge in c. 1938 looking southward from the Bronx. By Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York – BW3, CC BY 2.0
Brian Corey

Recent Posts

October 31, 1957 – The Chevrolet Impala is announced

After debuting an Impala show car at the 1956 GM Motorama, Chevrolet used the name…

5 days ago

October 30, 1911 – Little Motor Car Company is founded, later becomes part of Chevrolet

The Little Motor Car Company, founded on October 30, 1911, in Flint, Michigan, is a…

5 days ago

October 29, 1932 – Safarikar builder Bruce Mohs is born

Bruce Mohs with his Opera Sedan following its restoration. (autobild.de) Perhaps you've heard of the…

1 week ago

October 28, 1977 – Tokyo Motor Show opens

First generation Daihatsu Charade. By Charles01 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 The annual Tokyo…

1 week ago

October 27, 1937 – Second generation Cadillac V-16 is introduced

1940 Cadillac V16 90 Town Car To build the ultimate automobile, Cadillac began development of…

1 week ago

October 26, 1966 – Toyota introduces what will become the best selling car ever, the Toyota Corolla

1966 Toyota Corolla debut (Toyota) The Toyota Corolla, one of the most iconic and enduring…

1 week ago