Construction on the George Washington Bridge began in October of 1927 and was completed October 25, 1931. The architect was Othmar H. Ammann the Port Authority's Chief Engineer. The original bridge was six lanes wide, but two additional lanes were added to the deck in 1946. The lower deck was added in 1962 making the bridge the only 14 lane suspension bridge in the world. Ammann also served as a consultant on the addition of the lower deck.

In 1981 the bridge was declared a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.