Toll plazas at the George Washington Bridge are slowly disappearing. Here's why

A familiar — if not particularly attractive — North Jersey landmark is slowly disappearing from view.

The George Washington Bridge toll plazas — where millions of car and truck drivers have stopped to give toll collectors their cash or, later, have their E-ZPasses read — is being dismantled, bit by bit.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the world’s most-traversed bridge, switched to cashless tolling in July of 2022, making the old toll booths and E-ZPass readers obsolete. Gantries installed over the bridge approaches hold the newer cashless tolling equipment.

The demolition of the GWB toll plaza started in March 2023, and is scheduled for completion in 2025. The construction occurs during the day and overnights.

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“We are working diligently to limit the impact to commuters who traverse the George Washington Bridge overnight as construction continues on the demolition of the toll plazas,” said Lenis Valens, a Port Authority spokesperson.

“Cashless tolling is an investment that will continue to keep the region moving safely and efficiently well into the future,” Valens said.

When there’s work to be done during overnights, the Port Authority selects lane closures at the upper level toll plaza while still maintaining and shifting traffic flow.

Demolition cost is $29.5 million

The total cost to dismantle all of the toll plazas at the bridge is $29.5 million.

The Port Authority expects to recycle 70% of the materials being disassembled.

There are no plans to preserve any of the materials, including the old toll booths.

Today, approximately 90% of drivers use E-ZPass .

Toll rates to cross the GWB went up in January. Currently it costs cars and two-axel trucks with single rear wheels $13.38 during off peak hours, and $15.38 during peak hours. Those without E-ZPass who are tolled by mail get charged $17.63.

Peak hours are 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

When the George Washington Bridge opened in 1931, the car toll was 50 cents.

Toll plaza was the scene of Bridgegate

In September of 2013 the bridge toll plaza provided the location for one of the more bizarre political scandals in New Jersey history, when officials closed off two of three local tollbooth lanes with traffic cones for four days at the behest of aides in Gov. Chris Christie’s office.

The closures resulted in gridlock on local Fort Lee streets. Emails later revealed that the closure was ordered by Christie aides as retaliation against Fort Lee’s Democratic mayor, Mark Sokolich, for not endorsing Christie, a Republican, in his reelection bid. The incident became known as Bridgegate.

In addition to the GWB and the region's ports , the Port Authority operates five airports — Joh F. Kennedy and LaGuardia in New York City, Newark Liberty and Teterboro in New Jersey, and Stewart International in Orange County, New York.

It also operates the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels , and the Goethals, Outerbridge Crossing and Bayonne bridges, as well as PATH, the World Trade Center and bus terminals in Manhattan and The Bronx.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Toll plazas at the George Washington Bridge are slowly disappearing. Here's why