The Bridge was used to test several new materials designed to lower the cost and environmental impact of bridge cable maintenance.
One of them proved promising.

During routine inspections, bridge cables are unwrapped and wedges are used to separate the individual strands.
 Inspectors look for signs of moisture and corrosion throughout the cable.
For over 100 years, a red lead paste was used to seal the strands against moisture intrusion.
In addition to emerging as an environmental hazard during that span, the paste was also prone to drying out and cracking in a few years, creating an ongoing maintenance task.

In the 1990s engineers experimented with several materials on a small section of the cables of the Bear Mountain Bridge.
After a year the test areas were reexamined and one polymer-based, non-toxic paste was found to be superior.
The bridge cables were then rewrapped in 2000 using the material.
Seven years later the cables were found to be free of additional moisture or corrosion.
 New York State Bridge Authority chief engineer William Moreau expressed hope that the new material may lengthen the life of the cables, and lower the need for inspection and maintenance.
The Bridge was used to test several new materials designed to lower the cost and environmental impact of bridge cable maintenance. One of them proved promising.
During routine inspections, bridge cables are unwrapped and wedges are used to separate the individual strands.  Inspectors look for signs of moisture and corrosion throughout the cable. For over 100 years, a red lead paste was used to seal the strands against moisture intrusion. In addition to emerging as an environmental hazard during that span, the paste was also prone to drying out and cracking in a few years, creating an ongoing maintenance task.
In the 1990s engineers experimented with several materials on a small section of the cables of the Bear Mountain Bridge. After a year the test areas were reexamined and one polymer-based, non-toxic paste was found to be superior. The bridge cables were then rewrapped in 2000 using the material. Seven years later the cables were found to be free of additional moisture or corrosion.  New York State Bridge Authority chief engineer William Moreau expressed hope that the new material may lengthen the life of the cables, and lower the need for inspection and maintenance.
Bear Mountain Bridge