Verrazano-Narrows Bridge

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.

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.