Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Hey everyone! So, you’re driving down U.S. Route 1 in New Jersey, crossing the Raritan River between Edison and New Brunswick. You’re probably just thinking about traffic, right? But if you look closely, the two bridges you're driving on hold one of the coolest family stories in American infrastructure.
Let’s roll back the clock to 1929. The northbound span is built by Morris Goodkind. Now, Morris wasn’t just any engineer; he was the Chief Bridge Engineer for New Jersey. And he had a philosophy: infrastructure shouldn’t just be functional, it should be beautiful. So, he built this gorgeous, elegant Art Deco concrete arch bridge. The guy was a legend—he also helped design the iconic Pulaski Skyway!
Fast forward to 1974. Route 1 is booming, traffic is a mess, and New Jersey needs a twin bridge for the southbound lanes. Who gets the job? None other than Morris’s son, Donald Goodkind! Donald followed right in his dad's footsteps, became a brilliant engineer himself, and served as the Assistant Commissioner for Highways. So right there, side-by-side, you have a physical timeline of a father and son's shared life’s work.
And because these bridges are such Jersey landmarks, Hollywood definitely noticed. If you're a movie buff, you might know the Morris Goodkind bridge as the spot where rock star Eddie Wilson reportedly drove his Chevy off the edge in the cult classic *Eddie and the Cruisers*. And *The Sopranos* fans? You'll probably recognize the Donald Goodkind span from season one, where Detective Vin Makazian takes a tragic leap.
So, next time you’re cruising through Edison, give a little nod to the Goodkind family. It's not just a commute—it's a multi-generational masterpiece.
Hey everyone! So, you’re driving down U.S. Route 1 in New Jersey, crossing the Raritan River between Edison and New Brunswick. You’re probably just thinking about traffic, right? But if you look closely, the two bridges you're driving on hold one of the coolest family stories in American infrastructure.
Let’s roll back the clock to 1929. The northbound span is built by Morris Goodkind. Now, Morris wasn’t just any engineer; he was the Chief Bridge Engineer for New Jersey. And he had a philosophy: infrastructure shouldn’t just be functional, it should be beautiful. So, he built this gorgeous, elegant Art Deco concrete arch bridge. The guy was a legend—he also helped design the iconic Pulaski Skyway!
Fast forward to 1974. Route 1 is booming, traffic is a mess, and New Jersey needs a twin bridge for the southbound lanes. Who gets the job? None other than Morris’s son, Donald Goodkind! Donald followed right in his dad's footsteps, became a brilliant engineer himself, and served as the Assistant Commissioner for Highways. So right there, side-by-side, you have a physical timeline of a father and son's shared life’s work.
And because these bridges are such Jersey landmarks, Hollywood definitely noticed. If you're a movie buff, you might know the Morris Goodkind bridge as the spot where rock star Eddie Wilson reportedly drove his Chevy off the edge in the cult classic *Eddie and the Cruisers*. And *The Sopranos* fans? You'll probably recognize the Donald Goodkind span from season one, where Detective Vin Makazian takes a tragic leap.
So, next time you’re cruising through Edison, give a little nod to the Goodkind family. It's not just a commute—it's a multi-generational masterpiece.
