Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge anchorage on the Staten Island side contains a facility for heating cinders that are used to de-ice the bridge deck during winter. At the time of opening, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world; its 4,260-foot center span, between the two suspension towers, was longer than the Golden Gate Bridge's center span. Despite being only slightly longer than the Golden Gate Bridge, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge could carry a 75% greater load than the former could. In 1981, the Verrazzano Bridge was surpassed by the Humber Bridge in England, which has a center span of , as
Runyang Yangtze River Bridge In between the two bridges is the island of Shiyezhou. Prior to the bridge's completion, round-the-clock ferry services operated across the river. It took about 40 minutes to reach the Zhenjiang Railway Station from Yangzhou. The south bridge is a suspension bridge with a main span of . Upon its completion in 2005 it became the third longest suspension bridge span in the world and the largest in China. With the opening of the Xihoumen Bridge in 2007, it became the second longest span in China. It is now the fifth longest in the world. The towers are above water