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Monday, March 9, 2009

Suspenseful Bridges

Verrazano Bridge, New York
Photo by myself of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

Once the longest suspension bridge in the world, the Verrazano-Narrows connects Brooklyn with Staten Island. It is 60 feet longer than the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Verrazano is the starting point of the New York City Marathon, which runs through all five New York CIty Boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx.

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We had to study bridges in our structural classes in school, and the most notable suspension bridge we encountered had nothing to do with a long span or great heights.

The Tacoma Narrows was a good 2,000 ft shorter, and pre-dated the Verrazano by 30 years. It was located in Washington State, and earned notoriety from its famous collapse.



The design of the bridge had a fatal flaw, one which I couldn't begin to explain, (something to do with the wind in the area and the frequency of the cables). Miraculously, no one was killed.

Happy Monday everyone!

Related posts: From Under The Bridge, Moving on Up and Bridging the Gap.

16 comments:

Olivier said...

ce pont est magnifique, une vraie œuvre d'art. Vraiment dommage, qu'il ne soit pas prévu un coté pour les piétons (je crois que c'est le seul grand pont de NYC qui est comme cela), ça ferait une superbe ballade.
this bridge is splendid, a true work of art. Really damage, that it is not envisaged that one quoted for the pedestrians (I think that it is the alone big bridge of NYC that is as it), this would make a superb ballade.

Mom Knows Everything said...

I hate going over long bridges. It scares the crap out of me. Every time we go to PEI and drive over the bridge I just about have a stroke.

B SQUARED said...

Looks like a perfect movie set.

BrianC said...

What do you mean noone was killed? What about the dog that was too frightened to leave the car that had been abandoned on the bridge?

Dottie Jo said...

B Squared - it was a movie set! Isn't this the park where John Travolta sat talking to the girl in Saturday Night Fever? One of my favorite films...
great pic!

dianasfaria.com said...

I don't know why the owner of that dog just didn't grab the poor thing, maybe he was too frightened himself.
What amazing video, almost surreal.
your photo is neat too Kitty.

Anonymous said...

What an airy picture! I love the feeling of space and luminosity.

Fredrik said...

Great picture!

Anonymous said...

I like bridges but also dislike them. I like them when I don't have to be on them. I don't like them when I am on them.

It is like you never know if your brain surgeon got A's or D's in school.

Ken Mac said...

incredible shot.! I have never been here. Is this the Woody Allen Diane Keaton shot from Annie Hall?

Kris McCracken said...

I really do like this photo. Well composed.

I half glanced at the last comment and saw "is this where Woody Allen shot Diane Keaton?"

I bet he wishes he did...

Anonymous said...

WOWEEEEE! Do we know what made the bridge convulse??? Wouldn't that be key here? Wish the dog had lived. I've lived through a tornado, OH (was in a canoe), a 100year flood, UT (run off from the mountains down my street), and a 7.5 earthquake, UT (woken from sleep) within a 15 yr. span. Guess this should make someone else's odds less, yes? Bee

Kitty said...

ha, Bee. You've made it through a lot!

The bridge collapsed because of a design flaw. It's something to do with physics. I can't begin to explain it.

Thankfully they've figured it out and we're no longer in danger of this happening again with long span suspension bridges!

Unknown said...

This blog is amazing!!!I love to drive by a bridge, actually there are bridge beautiful for their structure or their size. simply love it. I´ll approach
costa rica investment opportunities in this country there are land that need big bridges.

pharmacy said...

I have driven over this bridge in a couple of times and I have to say a felt a weird sensation when I was there, but exciting at the same time.

Andrea said...

what a great photo Kitty!
I absolutely love bridges, they are my weak point, I actually seek out cities with bridges when I am planning my next holiday, they have a very humbling affect on me, especially as I am walking across them... (no surprise then that the Brooklyn bridge = new York is on my list...)
This bridge looks great, I've never actually heard of it before, but when I finally visit NYC, i'll be sure to walk over it.