The bridge's towers are built 1 5/8 inches further apart at the top than at the base due to the curvature of the Earth.
The steel cables contain enough wire to wrap around the Earth's circumference nearly 30 times.
During construction, the deck had to be adjusted for thermal expansion, as the steel can shift up to 12 feet depending on the temperature.
The bridge was the last major project managed by legendary urban planner Robert Moses.
It is the only bridge or tunnel entrance to Staten Island that does not connect to New Jersey.
The bridge was officially renamed the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in 2018 to include the second 'z' found in the explorer's actual name.
The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge spanning the Narrows, the tidal strait separating the New York City boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn. It holds the title for the longest suspension bridge span in the United States, measuring 4,260 feet between its two main towers. The structure consists of an upper level with six lanes and a lower level with six lanes, both part of Interstate 278. Its steel towers are 693 feet tall and were designed by Othmar Ammann. The bridge officially opened to traffic in 1964 and remains a critical link in the regional transportation network. It is named after the Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, the first European to enter New York Harbor in 1524. The bridge is famous for serving as the starting point for the annual New York City Marathon.
From the park grounds at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, looking upward toward the tower bases.
Use the pedestrian walkways on the Staten Island side for clear views of the towers and harbor entrance.
Avoid crossing during weekday rush hours, as heavy commuter traffic significantly slows transit.
Visit the adjacent Fort Wadsworth for historical context and elevated vantage points of the bridge's architecture.
Attempting to walk across the full span of the bridge, as there is no public pedestrian walkway between boroughs.
