NewsPublished: Oct. 24, 2025, 8:00 a.m.
It was a good size crowd that attended the dedication ceremonies that took place on the Staten Island side of the Goethals Bridge on 1928.(Port of New York Authority)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The original Goethals Bridge opened on June 29, 1928, the same day as the unveiling of the Outerbridge Crossing. The event marked the successful completion of the Port Authority’s first bi-state development project.
A number of birds rarely seen on the Island were breeding in the tidal wetlands around the Goethals Bridge. Here, the bridge is shown in 1988. Staten Island Advance
The new Goethals Bridge is shown in November 2018. Staten Island Advance
The bridge was named in honor of Major General George W. Goethals, the builder of the Panama Canal and the Port Authority’s first consulting engineer. June 29 would have been Gen. Goethals’ 70th birthday; however, he passed away just three months before the bridge’s dedication, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey website.
This 1927 photo shows the construction of Goethals Bridge.(Port of New York Authority)
A sign welcomes motorists to the new Goethals Bridge.Staten Island Advance
The original Goethals Bridge was demolished in 2018 and replaced by a new, modern-looking bridge designed to meet expanded regional transportation needs.
Transportation officials gather to view the completed twin span of the Goethals Bridge. Staten Island Advance
Mark Hermann of Westerleigh was the first Staten Islander to ride his bike over the Goethals Bridge when the shared-use path opened on March 4, 2020. Staten Island Advance
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