The Rip Van Winkle Bridge is a cantilever bridge spanning the Hudson River between Hudson, NY and Catskill, New York. The structure carries NY 23 across the river, connecting on the west side, US 9W and NY 385 with NY 9G on the east side. The bridge was built by the newly created New York State Bridge Authority, opening on July 2, 1935, at a cost of $2.4 million. Upon its opening, the toll was USD $0.80 per passenger car and USD $0.10 per passenger up to $1. It extends 5,040 feet (1536 m) across the river, with a ship clearance of 145 feet (44 m).

The bridge is named after the short story of the same name by Washington Irving.

A multi-year repainting project was completed in 2009 the removed all lead-based paint.

The bridge includes a pedestrian walkway on the south side of the bridge which is open from dawn to dusk. Cyclist may use the roadway or may walk their cycles across the pedestrian walkway.

External links and Resources

• New York State Bridge Authority - Official site
• Historical Overview: Rip Van Winkle Bridge - NYCRoads.com