The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge was the world’s longest suspension bridge when it was inaugurated in 1964. It is a double-decked suspension bridge that connects the Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City at the Narrows. Also, it is considered to be the starting point for the New York Marathon. This bridge was constructed with a view to connect the upper and lower bay. It is interesting to know that the bridge is named after Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, the first known European navigator to enter New York Harbor and the Hudson River in 1524.
The pylons of bridge are grounded at historic Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn and Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island, both of which guarded New York Harbor at the Narrows for over a century.
Till 1981 it ruled the charts of being the largest suspension bridge since 1964. Even now it is the largest suspension bridge in the United States though it has reached to seventh position when it comes to the comparison of the longest center span throughout the world.
It has a center span of 4,260 feet (1,298 m) that clings onto the monumental, massive towers that can be viewed to almost all good parts of New York. The towers are as high as 693 foot that are 1 5/8 inches farther apart at their tops as at their bases because the 4,260 foot distance between them made it necessary to compensate for the earth’s curvature. These magnificent, huge pieces of steel weigh around 27,000 tonnes each and are held together with three million rivets and one million bolts.
However, seasonal contractions and expansions of the steel cables caused the double-decked roadway to be 12 feet lower in the summer as compared to winters. The bridge furnishes a critical link in the local and regional highway system.
Few facts about Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
Enlisted are the few facts about Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
- Construction: 1959-1964
- Current status: in use
- Crosses: Verrazano-Narrows
- Location: between Staten island, New York, USA and Bay Ridge.
- Category: suspension bridge, Gravity anchored
- Utility/ function: motorway/freeway.
- Main span: 1298 meters
- Cables: they are 4 in number.
- Suspended length: 1.6 km
- Ship clearance: 66meters
- Lanes: 12 in number
- Height: 207 meters
- Steel used for structuring: 144000 tonnes
As such, this bridge is considered to be a major link in the interstate highway as it provides the shortest route to Middle Atlantic States from Long Island. Moreover, it connects Belt Parkway to the residential community of Bay Ridge. To be precise, it is not wrong to say that this bridge is the source of major developments in the areas of New York and act as a nerve vein to the city. It mot only connects mainland but, history has witnessed thorough developments in the areas after it was opened.
Not just a bridge, it is extensively associated to the cultures of the people living nearby. Today, it marks the gateway to New York Harbor and there are many shows and Marathons that has been a mark on Verrazano culture. The cultural aspect of Verrazano can be viewed with the details about various shows charming the bridge. The Cosby show, New York City Marathon is mere few examples of these. Apart from above, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge makes three appearances in Metal Gear Solid and Sons of Liberty. It is considered to be the landmark by which Snake is supposed to be off the tanker, it is seen at the beginning of part two where Raiden infiltrates the Big Shell off-shore cleanup facility, and it features near the end of the game, when Arsenal Gear passes under it.
