George Washington Bridge experience

[JohnO]

One driver I got to know over the past few years had a very uncomfortable some what frightening experience trying to cross over the George Washington Bridge..

He was attempting to take the upper ramp as required but was forced to lower ramp due to traffic conditions. Knowing bad things happen when a truck does this he was trying to stay calm for the inevitable crisis that was sure to be a brewing.

Well it hit the fan as a cop flags him down saying he was in violation and that truck could be towed and summons issued. He explained his situation figuring he would be saving up to pay for some hefty fines and not contributing to his IRA. The cop brought over his sergeant who clearly saw the fear in the drivers face after hearing driver’s story realized he wasn’t in violation and sent him on his way. He got to drive the lower level of the GWB vowing NEVER EVER to drive any where near New York City again. To my knowledge he never has to date

 

[nightcreacher]

John,he must have been a very inexperienced driver.Up til 911 trucks were permitted to take lower level,but not any more.ive been crossing that bridge for years,and Ive been in almost that situation,but if you just stop,you can make your way to the upper level.you might have to force the issue,but it can be done.He was lucky he didnt get fined,nyc isnt very forgiving.In my earloy years of driving ,when i drove a company truck,ytheu paid all the tolls,cant tell you how many times 'i crossed the same bridges,going one way than another,cause I was lost,funny now,not then,but thats how i learned my way around new york.Up until they took trucks over 45' out manhatten,going to jfk,you came into NY over the Gothels bridge,that is the same price as the GWB,but when leaving,we would cross the manhattenbridge and run over to Amsterdam,then go north to the Gwb out bound is free,so you only paid 1 toll,straight trucks can still do that.right time of day you loose 1/2 hour,wrong time about an hour.Another thing about the stae of NY,no budy mentions the measurement of their bridges,they are all marked a foot low,as they are measured from above the curb.this can be really confusing.