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Verrazano Bridge To Undergo $419 Million Upgrade

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The upper deck of Staten Island's Verrazano-Narrows Bridge will undergo a $419 million replacement.

The work will occur from 2012 until 2016. Motorists will not be affected by the work until 2014.

At least three lanes of the upper deck will remain open throughout the maintenance work.

MTA spokeswoman Judie Glave told the Staten Island Advance the original concrete deck dating from the bridge's opening in 1964 will be replaced with lighter-weight steel plates designed to reduce weight load.

The lanes also will be widened and a reversible bus/high occupancy vehicle lane will be added.

The bridge's lower deck was recently replaced.

Driving on the Verrazano, do you think the bridge needs improvements? Let us know below…

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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