Verrazano-Narrows Bridge

The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge that connects the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn on Long Island in New York City at the Narrows, the reach connecting the relatively protected upper bay with the larger lower bay.
When it opened in 1964, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge was the world's longest suspension span.

The bridge is named for Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, the first known European navigator to enter New York Harbor and the Hudson River, while crossing The Narrows. It has a center span of 4,260 feet (1,298 m) and was the largest suspension bridge in the world at the time of its completion in 1964, until it was surpassed by the Humber Bridge in the United Kingdom in 1981. It now has the eighth longest center span in the world, and is the largest suspension bridge in the United States. Its massive towers can be seen throughout a good part of the New York metropolitan area, including from spots in all five boroughs of New York City.

The bridge furnishes a critical link in the local and regional highway system. It is the starting point of the New York City Marathon. The bridge marks the gateway to New York Harbor; all cruise ships and most container ships arriving at the Port of New York and New Jersey must pass underneath the bridge and thus must be built to accommodate the clearance under the bridge.

The naming of the bridge for Verrazzano was controversial. It was first proposed in 1951 by the Italian Historical Society of America, when the bridge was in the planning stage. After Moses turned down the initial proposal, the society undertook a public relations campaign to re-establish the reputation of the largely forgotten Verrazano and to promote the idea of naming the bridge for him. The campaign was largely the effort of Society director John N. LaCorte, who in 1954 successfully lobbied New York Governor W. Averell Harriman to proclaim April 17 (the anniversary of Verrazano's arrival in the harbor) as Verrazano Day. Subsequent efforts by LaCorte resulted in similar proclamations by governors of states along the East Coast. After these successes, LaCorte reapproached the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, but was turned down a second time. The manager of the authority, backed by Moses, said the name was too long and that he had never heard of Verrazano.

Photo by AllWaysNY

The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge opened on November 21, 1964, at a cost of $320.1 million. The six-lane upper deck was opened to traffic, while the six-lane lower deck was reserved for future use. Moses spoke of the completed project, "These gigantic, suspended rainbow arches of steel and stone are surely evidence of Divine inspiration."

Some 12,000 men worked on the bridge; about 1,000 men worked on site during the construction schedule's peak. The construction workers consisted of both local union members, most of whom were from Brooklyn Union 361 and Manhattan Union 40 with previous bridge building experience in New York, and "boomers," who were itinerant union workers and site supervisors traveling at the end of each project and moving on to the next work site, no matter the distance. Despite their heroic efforts, none of the workers were invited to the bridge's opening ceremonies.

Photo by glennQNYC

During its first full year of operation in 1965, the six-lane Verrazano-Narrows Bridge carried approximately 48,000 vehicles per day. According to traffic projections done at that time, the lower deck was to open in 1975. However, increased traffic accelerated the opening of the lower deck to June 1969. Each deck carries three westbound lanes and three eastbound lanes of I-278.The one-way toll (paid westbound into Staten Island only) in cash is $10 per car or $4.50 per motorcycle. E-ZPass users get a discount of $1.70 per car.

As of March 2007, there is a reduced toll of $4.80 for Staten Island residents. There is also a significant carpool discount. From 1964 to 1986, the toll was collected in both directions, until Staten Island residents concerned about pollution from idling vehicles called for one way tolls. However, as of 2007 the eastbound toll booths are still in place, requiring drivers to slow down. While the high cost of the toll between Brooklyn and Staten Island has always been an issue for residents, some favor the toll because they see it as a way to curb population growth on Staten Island.

Photo by dstueber

Type of bridge:Suspension

Construction started:August 13, 1959
Opened to traffic (upper deck):November 21, 1964
Opened to traffic (lower deck):June 28, 1969
Length of main span:4,260 feet
Length of each side span:1,215 feet
Length, anchorage to anchorage:6,690 feet
Total length of bridge and approaches:13,700 feet
Width of bridge:103 feet
Number of decks:2 decks
Number of traffic lanes:12 lanes (6 upper, 6 lower)
Height of towers above mean high water:693 feet
Clearance at center above mean high water:228 feet
Deepest foundation below mean high water:170 feet
Structural steel used in approaches:20,000 tons
Steel used in towers and suspended structure:107,000 tons
Reinforcing steel used in entire structure:34,000 tons
Number of cables:4 cables
Diameter of each of four cables:36 inches
Length of each cable:7,205 feet
Diameter of each wire:0.196 inch
Total number of wires per cable:26,108 wires
Total length of wires:143,000 miles
Concrete used in anchorages:378,000 cubic yards
Concrete used in tower piers:196,500 cubic yards
Concrete used on bridge roadway:20,100 cubic yards
Concrete used on approaches:130,000 cubic yards
Cost of original structure:$320,126,000

Photo by pmarella