In a place like NYC, most of our views are coming from the tops of skyscrapers. But have you ever wondered what it might look like from the top of a bridge?
Queens native Cody Kilian is a bridge painter for the George Washington Bridge, joining his team in 2019. Kilian never realized that being a bridge painter was something that he could be until he saw a job listing for it.
“Some may think it’s crazy, but it’s just a career that I chose,” said Kilian. “It was very overwhelming to begin with. But with the great help of coworkers, they show you everything is about safety, take it step by step and made a career out of it.”
As a bridge painter, there have been plenty of things that Killian has seen, such as the replacement of a new American flag on the bridge to passersby taking a walk on the George Washington Bridge. One thing that Killian noticed from working at the top of the bridge is the incredible views of the city below him, often surrounded by the morning clouds.
Kilian started taking videos of his views from on top of the George Washington Bridge, showcasing what it’s actually like from that incredible height.
“One of the proctors [for when I was tested for this job] actually told me to stop and enjoy at the moment because not many people get to do this, recalled Kilian. “So I actually did stop. I looked to the left down the Hudson and to the right. It was breathtaking.”
Kilian says that going up to such a height is completely surreal, noting that the elevator going up was the longest ride of of his life. There’s no music, no fun buttons, just you and whoever else riding up.
Once you’re at the top of the George Washington Bridge, Kilian says that it’s surprisingly quiet.
“Even though it’s the world’s busiest bridge with the most track traffic going over it, it was so quiet up there. It was beautiful. I’ve never seen elevator doors open up and get that view and not many people do,” said Kilian. “When you’re all the way up top, it’s surreal. It’s so quiet. You don’t hear anything. you might hear a couple of sirens, the traffic — you could barely hear the tractor trailers.”
Kilian says that while it’s a little scary up there, he’s been fortunate to have a great team around him who prioritizes safety over everything else.
Though Kilian knows that the videos won’t do complete justice for the views, he hopes that those who do see them can see just a little bit of what he gets to see every day when he goes to work.
“I make these videos so that the everyday person can see what I do for a living as well as other people who work on a bridge — iron workers, bridge painters, anyone else with a job like mine,” said Kilian. “You won’t get the full effect of being up there, but I try to make these videos to just like to try to get you as close as I can to that feeling to make you feel how I feel.”
Like what you see? Sign up for our amNY x What is New York email newsletter to receive a new collection of viral clips, exclusive interviews, history trivia, and unique “only in NY” stories.
