Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge

For six decades, WSP has been dedicated to safeguarding the legacy of Othmar H. Ammann’s iconic Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. Since its construction in 1964 as the world’s longest suspension bridge at that time, WSP has provided a wide range of services to ensure the safety of current and future travelers. Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2024!

Location

Staten Island, New York, USA

Client

MTA’s Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA)

Project Status

Ongoing

Main Cable Investigation and Suspender Rope Replacement

Key aspects of suspension system rehabilitation involve assessing corrosion levels and their impact on cable elements, designing repairs for corrosion-damaged components, and creating sustainable maintenance programs. WSP spearheaded the main cable investigation, testing and modeling, which included inspecting the main cables during the construction unwrapping phase, evaluating test results for the main cable wires and conducting strength analysis.

Additionally, WSP led the complex analysis of jacking and load transfer for testing and replacing the bridge’s suspender ropes. WSP also developed detailed maintenance and traffic protection plans to minimize the impact on over 100,000 daily travelers, ensuring the highest level of safety and service to the public during the investigation and replacement of these critical suspension bridge systems.

Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge Turns 60: An Engineering Marvel

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Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Ramps and Roadway Decks

Work on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge included rehabilitation and reconstruction to address long-standing operations and safety issues with the structure. With many of the upper level approach and Belt Parkway ramps dating from the original construction, WSP, in a joint venture, prepared the master planning document and the first phase of master plan improvements for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the project owner.

The scope of work included reconstruction and rehabilitation of the upper-level approach decks by replacing the structural deck and deficient supporting elements on the Staten Island and Brooklyn approaches. The goal was to extend the suspension bridge’s lifespan; enhance its functionality and approaches; and improve traffic safety while minimizing impacts on customers, environment and the neighboring community.

Verrazzano Narrows Bridge through the years. Click on arrows to view more images.

Key Numbers

Bridge Length

13,200 ft

Lanes

12

Main Suspension Length

4,260 ft

Pavement

1.5M sq ft

Longest Suspension Bridge World Rank

13th

Making History Annually

Since 1976, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge has hosted the start of the New York City Marathon with a 26.2 mile journey through all five boroughs – a path made possible by the Verrazzano-Narrows bridge. WSP is proud to shine a light on the structures and buildings that define both the 26.2-mile journey and New York’s legacy of architectural achievement. See the route made famous every November.

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Biennial Inspections

Today the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is the world’s 13th-longest suspension span bridge, and was the longest from its opening in 1964 through 1981. Located at the mouth of the upper New York Bay, the bridge not only connects Brooklyn with Staten Island, but is also a major link in the interstate highway system, providing the shortest route between the middle Atlantic states and Long Island.

This double-decked bridge carries 12 lanes of traffic over the Narrows and Belt Parkway. It is a 13,200-foot-long structure with a 4,260-foot-long main center suspension span flanked by two side spans, each 1,215 feet long. WSP performed the 2012 biennial inspection of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and previously completed the 2008, 2004 and 2000 biennial and 2009, 2005 and 2001 special inspection of this structure.

Bridge Access

WSP utilized up to six inspection teams to perform the inspection and associated tasks. A variety of access methods were used that included high lifts, bucket trucks, underbridge inspection units, free climbing, and necessary MPT.

For the 2000 contract, the firm also inspected more than 1.5 million square feet of pavement on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The firm also performed special inspections in 2009, 2005 and 2001.

In order to keep track of the inspection work performed on our TBTA projects, WSP has maintained and managed databases ranging in size up to more than 72,000 records. The firm has also written thousands of lines of program code to create user interfaces and report routines.