Verrazzano is a bridge that is impressive in its size, connecting Staten Island and Brooklyn. The opening took place in 1964, and until 1981 it had the status of the longest suspension bridge in the world. The bridge has become an integral part of the landscape, a real gateway to New York harbor. 🔗 Wikipedia
Verrazzano Narrows Bridge | Construction, History and Interesting Facts
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Name of the bridge: Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge (Verrazzano Bridge)
Description:
Verrazzano Bridge - Narrows, a suspension bridge that connects the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City through the Narrows.
Address: Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, Staten Island, NY, United States
Crosses: The Narrows
Construction start: August 13, 1959
Bridge Total length: 13,700 ft (4,176 m)
Bridge Width: 103 ft (31 m)
Bridge Height: 693 ft (211 m)
Longest span: 4,260 ft (1,298 m)
Opened: November 21, 1964 (upper level)
June 28, 1969 (lower level)
Designer: Othmar Ammann, Leopold Just and other engineers at Ammann & Whitney
Daily traffic: 202,523 (2016)
verrazzano bridge toll 2021: (verrazzano bridge toll both ways) As of April 11, 2021:
$6.55 (New York E-ZPass users outside Staten Island)
$2.75 (Staten Island residents E-ZPass)
$10.17 (Tolls By Mail and non-New York E-ZPass)
$8.36 (Mid-Tier NYCSC E-Z Pass)
Maintained by: MTA Bridges and Tunnels
🔗 Official website: Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
The structure is laid through the Narrows Strait and has a main span of 1298 m (which is 18 m more than the famous Golden Gate in San Francisco). The length of its lateral spans is 370.5 m. The bridge is a structure of two tiers, each of which is used for road traffic (on both tiers, 6 rows).
Verrazzano-narrows bridge toll cost:
Construction of the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge:
The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, designed by Othmar H. Ammann and Charles S. Whitney, is a suspension bridge located at the entrance to New York Harbor, connecting the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn through the strait that connects the upper and lower parts from New York Bay. Construction of the Verrazzano bridge began August 13, 1959, and the upper deck was opened on November 21, 1964, at a cost of $ 320 million. The length of its central span is 1,298 m. which made it the longest suspension bridge in the world from completion of construction until 1981, when it was surpassed by the Humber Bridge in England.
Why is it called Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge?
The bridge is named after the Florentine explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, the first known European navigator to enter New York Bay and the Hudson River. It constitutes a critical nexus in the local and regional road system, being well known as the starting point of the New York City Marathon. Most of the maritime traffic bound for the ports of New York and New Jersey must pass under the bridge.
The bridge is made up of two large triangulated girders on the edges, 7.3 m deep. Despite having a double traffic platform, it has a slenderness of 1/178. This does not mean that the board has sufficient torsional and bending stiffness to avoid instability due to the effects of the wind. The towers are two independent pillars joined at the top by a deep diaphragm.
According to the United States Department of Transportation:
- Each of the two towers contains one million bolts and three million rivets.
- The diameter of each of the 4 suspension cables is 36 inches. Each cable consists of 26,108 cables totaling 143,000 miles in length.
- Due to the height of the towers and their distance, the curvature of the Earth's surface had to be taken into account in the design of the bridge - the towers are 15/8 inches further at the top than at their bases.
- Due to the thermal expansion of the steel cables, the bridge's carriageway is 12 feet lower in summer than in winter.
Verrazzano Narrows Bridge History:
The Verrazzano bridge (Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge). It owes its name to Giovanni Da Verrazzano, an Italian explorer and the first European navigator to enter the Hudson River like New York Bay. Its construction ended in 1964 and from then until 1981, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. It currently occupies the seventh position although it continues to be the longest in the US It is famous for being the starting point of the well-known New York City Marathon, much of the maritime traffic that circulates between New Jersey and New York, goes under its structure. It carries about 200,000 vehicles per day. It is the work of the civil engineer Othmar H. Ammann. This bridge was also helped to build by boxer and heavyweight champion of the mid-1930s James Walker Braddock, better known as the Cinderella Man of New Jersey. It was inaugurated November 21, 1964 (upper level) and June 28, 1969 (lower level) the bridge is maintained by MTA Bridges and Tunnels.
See also:
Interesting facts about Verrazzano Narrows Bridge:
• Every year about 202,523 vehicles pass over the bridge. It should be noted that the clearance of the bridge is 69 and a half meters. It is noteworthy that the famous cruise ship Queen Mary 2 was built with a special expectation so that it could pass under Verrazzano.
• It should be noted that from the height of the bridge, the spectacle is simply amazing: you can see the Atlantic Ocean, magnificent Manhattan, the majestic Statue of Liberty and other beauties of the harbor.
• However, only passengers of cars and public transport can enjoy the beautiful view - pedestrians or cyclists are not allowed to cross this bridge (as an exception, special events - a marathon and a bicycle race), and transport travel is paid (it is $17 the tax is called -toll, which is noteworthy - discounts are available for Staten Island Resident). Those who plan to drive cars across the bridge on their own need to prepare for traffic jams.
• The bridge has gained wide popularity all over the world precisely due to the fact that the annual marathon starts here.
More interesting articles about New York Bridge:
• Bridges of New York | Beautiful & famous bridges in New York City
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• Emily Warren Roebling: The Woman Who Built the Brooklyn Bridge
• Robert F. Kennedy Bridge (Triborough Bridge) - History, Facts, and Travel Guide
