The Verrazano Bridge connects Brooklyn and Staten Island, crosses the Narrows Strait. Part of the New York Marathon route passes through it, during which car traffic is completely closed. Athletes run, admiring the views of Manhattan, the Atlantic Ocean and the Statue of Liberty.
Short description
The length of the central span of the Verrazano bridge is estimated at almost 1,300 meters, the side spans are 370 and a half meters, and the height of the pylons with supporting cables is just over 210 meters. This is a two–story bridge: there are 7 lanes of traffic on the upper level and 6 lanes on the lower level, and pedestrian access is not provided. The Interstate 278 highway passes through the Verrazano Bridge, which belongs to the New York City Administration, and it is rated as the final link in the highway system.
Design features
Each of the two suspension towers contains approximately one million bolts and another 3 million rivets. During their construction, more than a million tons of metal were used, which was used in the construction of the Empire State Building in New York. The height of the towers reaches 211 meters, the distance between them is estimated at 1,298 meters. They are not parallel to each other, the distance at the top is greater than at the bottom. Birds spend the night here, including peregrine falcons, which nest on top of the towers. Falcons can also be found in this place.
History of creation
The Verrazano Bridge was named after the navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano from Italy. Construction began in 1959, but the project was delayed, so the work process lasted 10 years. In 1964, the first level was opened, the second level has been available to drivers only since 1969. For 11 years, the Verrazano Bridge was considered the largest suspension bridge on Earth, but later the status passed to the Humber from the UK. Due to the congestion, travel through Verrazano was made toll-free. According to the data for 2025, the fee is set only during the Brooklyn – Staten Island trip, in the opposite direction the trip is free. Despite this, he is still very popular.
How to get
Express buses X1, X2, X3 and up to X15 run across the bridge from Manhattan to Staten Island, and S53, S93, and S79 SBS run from Brooklyn. Please note that in severe weather, traffic on the Verrazano Bridge stops for safety reasons. It is forbidden to travel by public transport during the New York Marathon, which is usually organized every year in early November. Participants must pre-register, without which they can come to the competition as a spectator or fan.
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