The Tappan Zee Bridge is a good piece north of NYC. I prefer it over the George Washington when going south, to Washington, or Virginia. I-95 through the pre-Juliani Bronx was the kind of horror that inspired dystopian movies like Escape From New York.
Try doing the GWB, Cross Bronx Expressway, and the NE Throughway in a semi 5 times a week. This is why Im now driving a school bus.
Aptly stated, for me it was always a landmark crossing on our trek back from Maine to DC.