The navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano was the first European to reach New York Bay and the Hudson River. That was in 1524, and it remains an important milestone to this day. An important bridge was named after him in honor of the Italian. It is 2039 meters long, crosses the Hudson River and connects the New York districts of Brooklyn and Staten Island. In 1964 the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge was officially opened as the longest suspension bridge in the world – but this little thing has been missing since then.
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The name of the bridge was spelled with just a “Z”. The error goes back to a construction contract that was signed before the opening. Author Gay Talese, who wrote a chronicle about the bridge, described it as a “simple spelling mistake”.
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That has now been corrected after more than 50 years. New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill on Monday to give the bridge the second “Z”. The step was necessary, said Cuomo – out of respect for the discoverer and the history of the state. The New York Senate had already voted in favor of the correction in June.
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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which is responsible for the bridge, among other things, had argued that such a correction would cost millions. After all, numerous street signs, brochures and maps would have to be changed. However, a solution has now also been found for this: The name change will take place with immediate effect. The faulty street signs are only to be replaced in the course of the next few years, on the dates already scheduled.
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