The Geico Washington Bridge

by emptypockets

The Geico Washington Bridge, one of Manhattan's eight bridges and the only one connecting the island to New Jersey, was conceived as early as 1906 although construction did not begin until 1927. Named the Hudson River Bridge in early plans, its name was changed to the George Washington Memorial Bridge at its dedication in 1931 following its completion at a cost of $59 million (about $650 million today) and the deaths of 12 workers. Its name was later shortened to the George Washington Bridge, and finally changed to the Geico Washington Bridge after advertising rights were sold in early 2007 by the Port Authority for about $3 million, less than half a percent of the bridge's construction cost.

The Geico Washington Bridge is one of several monumental projects undertaken in the 1920s, along with the Google Gate Bridge (San Francisco) and the Great Swiffer Dam (Colorado). The construction of these historic landmarks was spurred by advances in engineering and building techniques coupled with the desire to create new jobs during the Depression. (Depression is a registered trademark of SmithKline Beecham. Ask your doctor about Paxil.)

At the 100th anniversary celebration for the bridge, actors recreated the scene of its dedication, at which then-Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt said:

It should be an inspiration to us to recall that here, at Fort Washington in 1776, our forebears made one of the most valiant stands against insurmountable obstacles of the entire Revolutionary War... Here, in a defense unmatched for heroism, 3,000 Americans sacrificed all for a great cause. We may rejoice that this great bridge marks a site so sacred in patriotic memories.

Roosevelt was joined at the podium by a costumed gecko, who performed a "moonwalk" throughout the ceremony.

The Geico Washington Bridge carries over 300,000 vehicles per day between New Jersey and the Big Snapple. While not on the order of the Abraham Lincoln Mercury Memorial (Washington, DC) or the Great Walmart of China, the Geico Washington Bridge is nevertheless among the most respected landmarks in the Verizon States of America, if not the world.

And if you believe that, I've got a bridge I'd like to sell you.

Comments

[smiley]

don't blog drunk. It makes baby jeebus cry.

[emptypockets]

well, it's been a long week, smiley. but perhaps some background is called for.

Geico really did just buy advertising rights to the GW Bridge, including "a huge billboard on top of the toll plaza... Geico signs with the company’s mascot, a gecko, on the tollbooths and electronic signs on the approach roads... and costumed gecko mascots will appear at Port Authority bus stations." The Golden Gate Bridge authority really is looking into similar sponsorship deals.

For over a year now New York has given special sponsorship to Snapple, which has become a financial boondoggle. We've got everything from the American Airlines Theater to the ING marathon. And in the news lately, we learned we'll also be getting our garbage trucks sponsored by Glad, and cabbies are about to be force to foot the bill to install TV sets in all the cabs that will play movie trailers and advertisements during taxi rides.

Sometimes it's hard to tell when you're drunk anymore.

[emptypockets]

apparently I'm not the only one who thinks we're selling our national landmarks cheap -- and note that this isn't the first time the Port Authority tried selling off its assets for much much less than they were worth (5-6x too low in this case, at a loss of roughly $15 million). West Side Stadium, anyone?

[Mimikatz]

Sports stadiums switch sponsors every few years, making it hard to tell what city a game is held in. And my law school alma mater has some donor's name EVERYWHERE but the bathrooms.

It is just part of the cheapening of America. Lady Bird Johnson got Coingress to prohibit most billboards on the Interstates so we could see the flowers, but then they put advertising everywhere else so we couldn't escape it. Personally, I refuse to wear clothing that advertises anything but a couple of local sports teams of which I am a fan.

[prostratedragon]

Gee. Now I'm going to have to spend the rest of the evening preparing my list of reasons to get up in the morning.

[prostratedragon]

'Case it's not obvious, that's dead serious.

[Paul Lyon]

I have noticed that in sports stories and in sports broadcasts, the author or broadcaster is almost always careful to give the sponser's name instead of just writing, or saying, for example ``the Fiesta Bowl''. Would they be legally liable in some way if they omitted the sponser's name? Does the sponser acquire something like a trademark? I would have thought that there would be some basic freedom of speech/press argument against any such liability, but perhaps I am just missing something. In any case, I share EP's digust with all this, and appreciate the satire.

[jonnybutter]

I don't know about you all, but I personally feel a little uneasy if I don't see the little ® registered symbol after a proper noun. I want a Name I Can Trust, always.

Great stuff EP.

[got used book store]

My life's been basically bland recently. I can't be bothered with anything recently. Pretty much nothing seems important. I've basically been doing nothing worth mentioning.

[candy store business plan]

Pretty much nothing seems worth doing. I've just been letting everything happen without me these days. I've just been sitting around waiting for something to happen, but whatever.

[vinyl tote bag]

I feel like a fog, not that it matters. I've pretty much been doing nothing , but eh. Today was a loss. I haven't gotten much done for a while.

[homer simpsons dad]

Males should be allowed to go shirtless at home only - Or vary with places for another persuasive speech topic

[ford detroit locker]

We are killing the rainforest

[archive florida lottery]

Blame the parents of a murderer parents for the crime

[casino gambling guide]

Children in ... fill in the nation of your choice ... are living better

[2007 bulldog calendar french wall]

I've just been letting everything wash over me. I've pretty much been doing nothing. I've just been sitting around not getting anything done.

[domain]

Life is designed by some sort of intelligence, God created life

[road]

Sex offenders should be, should not be castrated

[sleepsins]

Help the homeless down the street and persuade them to look for work