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Verrazano Bridge Toll Plaza's $50M Overhaul Is Complete, Governor Says

By Nicholas Rizzi | December 10, 2014 1:15pm
 The MTA completed the $50 million reconstruction of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge toll plaza, aimed to improve traffic flow on the bridge.
The MTA completed the $50 million reconstruction of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge toll plaza, aimed to improve traffic flow on the bridge.
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Flickr/S. Nirza

FORT WADSWORTH — The MTA has completed its $50 million project to rebuild the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge toll plaza, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced.

The improvements to the plaza, which started in 2011, aimed to increase traffic flow on the Staten Island approach to the bridge and were completed seven months ahead of schedule, Cuomo said.

“These toll plaza modifications are major improvements that will alleviate congestion and improve travel for everyone who uses the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge,” Cuomo said in a statement. “This project represented the most significant upgrades to the bridge’s physical design in more than 40 years — and I am proud to see it completed not only on-budget, but well ahead of schedule.”

The project removed the last three Brooklyn-bound toll booths — unused since 1986 — and built a new ramp to make it easier to drive directly to the lower level of the bridge, Cuomo said.

The ramps to the bridge from Narrows Road South and Lily Pond Avenue were also reconstructed as part of the project, and the Father Capodanno Boulevard ramp was completely rebuilt, Cuomo said.

The final major construction work on the bridge was done on Nov. 25, and only some minor roadway and electrical work still has to be done, Cuomo said.

The 50-year-old bridge, which could cost $16 to cross under proposed toll hikes, also had $431 million allocated to it in the MTA's latest capital plan for various improvements, including replacement of the upper level approach and reconstruction of the Brooklyn approach.