It's Been 40 Years Since the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge Opened

[musicradio77]

I can't wait for this weekend. This Sunday marks the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. It would be great. I like my avatar of the bridge to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the opening of the bridge. The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is still the world's longest suspension bridge since the San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge which was opened 27 years prior to the opening. The bridge was opened to traffic in 1964. The bridge was designed by Othmar Ammann, the one he did the Throgs Neck, George Washington, Bayonne bridges and some others. The bridge was connected between Brooklyn and Staten Island. It was first planned by Robert Moses. The toll for this bridge is $8.00. If you like to see the history of how the bridge was really to opened, here is a link for "Bridge In the Backyard". It shows all about the history of the Verrazano Bridge. It was taken from the Forgotten NY page or here's a complete description about the bridge. Happy 40th anniversary to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

[Sargent Stewie]

I remember always having to take this bridge everytime when I visit my grandma or my cousin in brooklyn. Happy 40th anniversery!

[musicradio77]

I remember we used to take the bridge to my grandmother's daughter cementary which is not far from the Outer Bridge where I used to stay in Staten Island for awhile. I also remember that we took the bridge to Camp Pouch since I was a youngster at the time. I remember that scene from "Saturday Night Fever" in which Tony Manero and the guys danced on the edge of the bridge. That was my most important scene from the movie.

[musicradio77]

If you like the Verrazano Bridge, here is a picture of what it turns out to be the Golden Gate Bridge. That is another bridge that it looks very similar to that one. The Golden Gate Bridge is located in San Francisco. It was opened to traffic in 1937. That was 27 years before the bridge was opened back in 1964 in Brooklyn.

[Pitooey]

I didn't even know that the Verrazano was that old..... LOL........

I just went through the bridge last week.

I wonder did the marathoners run this year through it?

[Sargent Stewie]

Originally posted by Pitooey
I wonder did the marathoners run this year through it?

Yea, that was like during the beginning of the run, which led them running in Neptune Ave. where my grandmother lives.

[TJL]

40 Years?

Yeah, that's about how long it takes to cross the Varazanno durig rush hour.

[musicradio77]

In addition to that, it is also the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Gowanus Expressway. The highway travels from the Battery Tunnel to the Verrazano Bridge. he expressway was built between 1939 until 1964. It took 25 years to be completed where the Verrazano Bridge was scheduled to opened prior to that. If you like to see the history of about the Gowanus Expressway, here it is:

Gowanus Expressway, A Complete History

I've been on the Gowanus Expressway many times before. This is a picture of the Gowanus Expressway taken from the Smith-9th Street subway station. Happy 40th Anniversary again to the Gowanus Expressway.

[Pitooey]

Those pictures are so cool. One thing about that road it seems like you have to swerve the potholes.

[musicradio77]

I got this one from the Daily News website:

HAPPY 40TH, VERRAZANO

And the harbor beauty deserves today's birthday wishes! Here are 10 fasinating facts about the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge:

1. The Verrazano was designed by Othmar Ammann, who previously designed the Triboro, Whitestone, Throngs Neck, George Washington and Bayonne bridges.

2. 4,620 feet between the towers, the Verrazano was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it opened in 1964. It held that distinction for 17 years. It is still the longest in the U.S., but there are now bridges with longer spans in Japan, Turkey, Denmark and Britain.

3. The road deck in the center of the bridge rises and falls 12 feet between winter and summer.

4. In 1964, the toll for cars was 50 cents in each direction. Now the $8.00 toll is collected only from westbound vehicles (it's $7.00 for E-ZPass users and $4.00 for Staten Island residents with E-ZPass).

5. Each of the two towers is 693 feet high, as tall as a 60-story building.

6. It was the bidge John Travolta's character Tony Manero was obsessed with in "Saturday Night Fever" - and where one of his friends jumps off and dies.

7. Each tower weighs 27,000 tons and is held together with 3 million rivets and 1 billion bolts. Together, they contain as much steel as the Empire State Building.

8. Each of the four cables, which measure 7,205 feet long and 36 inches in diameter, was made from 143,000 miles of pencil-tin wire - more than half the distance to the moon if laid end to end.

9. It's the starting point each year for the New York City Marathon.

10. A total of 17.6 million vehicles crossed the bridge in its first full year of operation. More than 71 million vehicles crossed the bridge last year.

Source: Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority