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=== Controversies and protests ===
On September 9, 2013, dedicated toll lanes for one of the local [[Fort Lee, New Jersey|Fort Lee]] entrances to the bridge's upper level were reduced from three to one, with the two other lanes diverted to highway traffic. The closures were made without notification to local government officials and emergency responders. The local toll lane reductions caused massive traffic congestion, with major delays for school transportation and police and emergency service responses within Fort Lee.<ref>{{cite news|date=January 9, 2014|title=For Christie, perhaps a bridge too far|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/for-christie-perhaps-a-bridge-too-far/2014/01/09/2928e054-797a-11e3-af7f-13bf0e9965f6_graphic.html}}</ref> The lanes were reponedreopened by the [[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey|Port Authority]] on September 13.<ref>{{cite web|date=January 10, 2014|title=The backstory of Christie's 'Bridgegate' scandal|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/01/09/christie-bridge-scandal-what-happened/4392155|access-date=February 2, 2014|work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> After a four-month investigation, it was revealed that the lane closures were made by the aides and appointees of [[Governor of New Jersey|New Jersey Governor]] [[Chris Christie]], causing [[Fort Lee lane closure scandal|a political scandal]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Baxter|first=Christopher|title=UPDATED: Timeline of Port Authority's George Washington Bridge controversy|url=http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/03/timeline_of_the_port_authoritys_george_washington_bridge_lane_closure_controversy.html|access-date=March 31, 2014|work=The Star-Ledger|date=March 11, 2014}}</ref> The repercussions and controversy surrounding these actions have been [[Fort Lee lane closure scandal#Investigations|investigated]] by the Port Authority,<ref>{{cite news|last=Strunsky|first=Steve|date=October 16, 2013|title=George Washington Bridge lane closures prompt internal review, lawmaker outrage|newspaper=The Star-Ledger|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/10/george_washington_bridge_lane_closures_prompt_internal_review_lawmaker_outrage.html|access-date=April 3, 2014}}</ref> federal prosecutors,<ref>{{cite news|last=Chung|first=Jen|date=January 9, 2014|title=U.S. Attorney Now Investigating Bridgegate|work=Gothamist|url=http://gothamist.com/2014/01/09/us_attorney_investigating_bridgegat.php|url-status=dead|access-date=January 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112031811/http://gothamist.com/2014/01/09/us_attorney_investigating_bridgegat.php|archive-date=January 12, 2014}}</ref> and a New Jersey legislature committee.<ref>{{cite news|last=Costa|first=Robert|date=January 13, 2014|title=Broader investigation of N.J. bridge closures launched|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/01/13/special-investigation-of-n-j-bridge-closures-launched|access-date=January 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=January 16, 2014|title=A Hiring by Christie Raises Questions Over Cooperation|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/17/nyregion/christie-bridge-inquiry.html?hp&_r=0|access-date=January 20, 2014|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
On September 12, 2020, a hundred anti-[[police brutality]] protesters from the [[Black Lives Matter]] movement converged from both New York and New Jersey, blocking the upper level of the bridge for about an hour before walking to the [[New York City Police Department]]'s 34th Precinct in Manhattan.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Keogh|first=Elizabeth|title=Protesters stop traffic on NYC side of George Washington Bridge|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-protestors-shut-down-bridge-20200913-suoao5jn3nb6ngxthl6nflpfby-story.html|access-date=September 14, 2020|website=nydailynews.com|date=September 12, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Protesters Shut Down George Washington Bridge, Clash With NYPD|url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/protesters-shut-down-george-washington-bridge-clash-with-nypd/2614844/|access-date=September 14, 2020|website=NBC New York|date=September 13, 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref>
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