Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, Double-decker suspension bridge in New York City, United States
The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge stretches 13,700 feet (4,176 meters) across New York Harbor, featuring steel towers that rise 693 feet (211 meters) above the water and a central span of 4,260 feet (1,298 meters) that allows large ships to pass underneath.
Opened on November 21, 1964, the bridge held the title of the world's longest suspension span at that time, and a second deck was added in 1969 to accommodate growing traffic demands between the two boroughs.
The bridge is named after Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, who became the first European to sail into New York Harbor in 1524, and the spelling with two z's was adopted after requests from the Italian-American community.
The bridge operates around the clock with cashless tolling, charging eastbound drivers $10.17 via E-ZPass, while Staten Island residents receive a reduced rate of $2.75 through a special discount program, and bicycles and pedestrians are not permitted except during special events.
Because of thermal expansion, the double-deck roadway sits up to 12 feet (3.7 m) lower in summer than in winter. The bridge's central span of 4,260 feet (1,298 m) was the longest in the world until the Humber Bridge opened in 1981, and it remains the longest in the Americas.
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