| With
an overall length of more than 2 miles, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time of dedication
on November 21, 1964. Today it's only in the top 10. It was at this
dedication that Othmar H. Ammann was honored and touted as perhaps
the greatest bridge engineer of all time. Ammann was also responsible
for the Triborough, Bronx-Whitestone, Throgs Neck & George Washington
Bridges.
The bridge was named after Giovanni da Verrazano who in 1524 was
sent out by the French to sail up the east coast of North America
from Florida to Cape Cod. He desired to see what the area must look
like so he explored the mouth of the New York Harbor. It was after
him that the bridge was named. He was the first European Navigator
to enter the New York Bay.
At the time of its construction, there was no other direct connection
between Staten Island and Brooklyn. As a result of its being built,
the Staten Island population began to increase at a rate of seventeen
hundred people per month. This increase continued for years until
maybe 1980, after which the increase leveled off to approximately
twelve thousand people per year.
During its first year of operation, the bridge carried about 48,000
vehicles whereas it carries close to 200,000/day today.
The impact of this bridge's construction was felt first by the
Bay Ridge area. About 800 buildings had to be demolished and thousands
of residents relocated.
Of course the vastly increased traffic between Staten Island and
Brooklyn left its toll on the island as well. For Staten Island,
the bridge helped to produce the type of modern problems usually
experienced by growing cities. These modern problems consisted of
crowded public facilities, land booms, traffic jams, increased crime,
and environmental deterioration. Things which Staten Island had
previously avoided.
As with any sort of advancement in society the Verrazano-Narrows
Bridge came to represent progress. Access to cultural amenities,
sophisticated health-care facilities, and the savings in time and
money were some of the advantages. I doubt there are few if any
doubters of the bridge today. |
