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The New NY Bridge Newsletter November 2016
December 5, 2016 by
New NY Bridge October Newsletter
October 11, 2016 by
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Project Update: Electronic Tolling System Requires Overnight Closures
November 13, 2015 by
For immediate release: Nov. 12, 2015
THRUWAY UNVEILS UPDATED PROJECT WEBSITE
All-Electronic Tolling System Work Requires Overnight Closure of Exit 10 On-Ramp on Friday, Nov. 20
The New York State Thruway Authority launched an updated NewNYBridge.com this week, featuring an easier-to-navigate interface, a comprehensive archive of project photos, videos and renderings, and a wealth of background information covering how the new crossing was studied and designed and is being built. Visit the new site and check back frequently for the latest updates on the fast-moving construction progress.
Steel Girder Installation
Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) will continue installing steel girders near the Rockland shoreline, connecting the new bridges abutment to already-installed support structures in the Hudson River. Safely accomplishing the work will require reducing River Road/Piermont Avenue to one lane during weekdays between 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Flag persons will keep traffic moving by alternating the directional flow between north and south. TZC also will hold traffic on River Road once daily between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for up to 20 minutes through Wednesday, Nov. 18 to enable the safe movement of girders and other materials.
Across the river, TZC will continue installing structural steel girder assemblies from the new bridges Westchester landing in Tarrytown. The assemblies will connect the future westbound spans on-land abutment to the first offshore support pier in the Hudson River. TZC is installing the girders by literally pushing them west over the Metro-North Railroad Hudson Lines tracks toward the first pier in the river, as seen in this animation. As the operation progresses, additional girders are being connected to the assembly and pushed farther westward. TZC is closely coordinating the effort with Metro-North, ensuring that the operation maximizes safety for both workers and the public and minimizes impacts to rail service.
With the entire operation anticipated to conclude by the end of the year, the remaining work over the Metro-North tracks will occur during two Friday overnights, one in November and one in December. The work will be announced in advance to enable Metro-North riders to plan ahead. Metro-North has adjusted its schedule slightly to allow the work to be completed. TZC will suspend construction activities when trains pass through the area, resuming when given the all clear instruction by Metro-North.
Additionally, the I Lift NY super crane will continue placing larger girders across the Hudson River, averaging two placements a week. A total of 31 miles of steel girders cumulatively weighing more than 100,000 tons will be installed for the new twin-span bridge.
All-Electronic Toll Collection Gantry Work
Construction of the projects temporary all-electronic toll collection (AETC) system in Rockland will continue near the exit 10 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W) on-ramp to southbound New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287). The work will necessitate closing the on-ramp during the overnight of Friday, Nov. 20. Drivers will be directed to use the on-ramp from Route 59 in Nyack, as shown in the graphic below. The work also requires double-lane closures during weekday overnights from Monday, Nov. 16 through Thursday, Nov. 19. This and other work require the specific lane and ramp closures detailed in the chart below.
Lane and Ramp Closures Near the Tappan Zee Bridge
Tower Construction Deck Panel Installation Installation of Noise Barriers in South Nyack Additional work includes:
Boater Safety The U.S. Coast Guard has established a Safety Zone surrounding 16 construction barge mooring locations at the project site. No unauthorized vessels are allowed in the Safety Zone. In addition, marine law enforcement will be enforcing the rules of the expanded Regulated Navigation Areas (RNAs) east and west of the Safety Zone. The RNAs stretch 500 yards north and 500 yards south of the existing bridge. Boaters are urged to transit the main channel with no wake at a maximum speed of 5 knots and to use extreme caution on the river at all times. More New NY Bridge boater safety information, including the U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners and construction site maps, can be found here at NewNYBridge.com. An interactive map showing vessel locations on the Hudson River is also available here for recreational and commercial boaters to get updated information on the very active construction zone. The GPS tracking map is for informational purposes and not intended for navigation. Mariners also should be aware that TZC will continue work in the vicinity of the side channels under the existing bridge. Additional temporary navigational lights have been installed to further define the 600-foot navigation channel under the main span. Permanent elements of the new bridge are lit per U.S. Coast Guard requirements, as are all moorings, barges and other equipment. All lane closures are subject to change due to traffic, weather or emergency situations. Please visit http://www.thruway.ny.gov/travelers/map/ for real-time information regarding traffic conditions. ### |
SUPER CRANE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES FIRST LIFT ON
April 24, 2015 by
NEW NY BRIDGE PROJECT
I LIFT NY hoists massive 600-ton foundation element into place today
One of the world’s largest floating cranes this morning successfully completed the first of many enormous lifts for the New NY Bridge project, following months of planning and preparation.
In a carefully coordinated three-and-a-half hour operation on the Hudson River between Westchester and Rockland counties, the I Lift NY super crane hoisted and set one of the project’s largest precast concrete pile caps weighing in at 600 tons.
Video and photos from today’s lift will be posted here.
“We brought in the I Lift NY super crane to reduce construction time and cost, and this first lift is another symbol that the New NY Bridge is officially on the way,” Thruway Acting Executive Director Robert L. Megna. “The crane is a key tool to building the bridge in a safer, more cost-effective, environmentally-friendly way. With savings of more than a billion dollars for tollpayers, this super crane will continue to do great work.”
Owned by Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC, the design-build contractor for the New York State Thruway Authority, the super crane’s extraordinary capabilities save time and money while enhancing quality and safety by allowing large sections of the bridge to be pre-fabricated off-site and shipped by barge to the construction zone.
I Lift NY will continue to lift and place sections of the new twin-span bridge some weighing from 900 to 1,100 tons and will assist with the dismantling of the existing 60-year-old Tappan Zee Bridge, reducing costs and shortening the deconstruction process.
The super crane’s boom is 328 feet tall, which is taller than a 30-story building, and can lift up to 1,900 tons, or the equivalent of 12 Statues of Liberty, at once. Despite its enormity, the barge-mounted crane sits high in the water, thereby reducing the need for dredging on the project by 50 percent.
The I Lift NY super crane made a 6,000-mile journey from the San Francisco Bay area in 2014, passing through the Panama Canal.
Since its arrival here in New York, the crane has gone through months of testing, modifications and upgrades including a new high-tech computer operating system and complete replacement of its rigging cables. The most experienced operating engineers in the area also spent months of specialized training to carefully handle this massive machine. Now that the ice has cleared on the Hudson River, the I Lift NY crane is getting to work on the pile caps and later this year will begin placing the even heavier structural steel beams that will carry the road deck across the new spans.
New NY Bridge Progress
Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership and with the support of President Barack Obama and the Federal government, the New NY Bridge project has progressed dramatically since construction began in October 2013 following many years of delay. Since October 2011, steps forward include: enactment of new design-build legislation; review and completion of concurrent environmental review and procurement processes; negotiation of a project labor agreement with construction unions; and recommendation from a panel of local leaders and transportation experts for a comprehensive plan for mass transit options for the region all with an unprecedented level of transparency and community involvement.
About the New NY Bridge
The New NY Bridge’s eight traffic lanes, four breakdown and emergency lanes, and state-of-the-art traffic monitoring systems will mean less congestion for motorists. Designed and constructed to be mass-transit-ready, the new crossing will be able to accommodate bus rapid transit, as well as light rail or commuter rail. The bridge will also include a bike and pedestrian shared-use path. Extensive measures are in place throughout the duration of the project to protect the environment and to monitor the impact of construction on surrounding communities.
I LIFT NY SUPER CRANE SPECIFICATIONS
Type of vessel: Floating Sheerleg Crane
Propulsion: None
Hull material: Steel
Lifting capacity: 1,929 tons
Length: 384 feet
Breadth: 99.8 feet
Depth: 22 feet
Boom length: 328.08 feet
Boom width: 65.7 feet
Min. boom angle for transport: 4 degrees
Min. boom angle for lifting: 19 degrees
Max. boom angle for lifting: 67 degrees
For more information or for photos and video of the I Lift NY super crane’s first lift, go to www.NewNYBridge.com
Falcons Swoop In See Tappan Zee Peregrines Live Via Webcam
February 27, 2015 by
Coming to you live from high above the Hudson River are the fastest members of the animal kingdom! The Tappan Zee Bridge’s peregrine falcons have returned to their man-made nest box to prepare for the nesting season and can be viewed on the project’s “FalconCam.”
Installed in the steel super structure of the existing bridge, the nest box is equipped with a live, 24/7 FalconCam, accessible here.
The remote FalconCam, located outside the nest box, provides close-up views of the lives of these amazing migratory raptors, which recently came back to reproduce. Peregrine eggs typically are laid in February and March and chicks hatch approximately one month later. Viewers may be able to watch as the chicks peck their way out of their eggs and are then fed and cared for by their parents.
As construction on the New NY Bridge project continues, a 100-foot buffer area is in place to help protect the falcons during their nesting period.
Maintained and monitored by the New York State Thruway Authority, the nest box evetappan zeentually will be relocated to a new perch in the towers of the new bridge.
Learn more about the Tappan Zee falcons.
Construction Milestone on the TZ Bridge
January 22, 2015 by
Another major construction milestone on the Tappan Zee Bridge project.
“To get to this point is very big,” Tappan Zee Constructors construction services manager Ro DiNardo told The Journal News.
Over the coming weeks and months, there will be a whirlwind of activity on the $3.9 billion project in Rockland alone.
http://lohud.us/1BJb9Iy
Lohud Khurram Saeed, ksaeed@lohud.com, January 9,2015
Holiday Travel this week on the TZ Bridge
December 20, 2014 by
For immediate release: December 19, 2014
ALL LANES OF NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY (I-87/I-287) WILL REMAIN OPEN FROM WEDNESDAY, DEC. 24 THROUGH SUNDAY, DEC. 28 TO EASE HOLIDAY TRAVEL
All lanes of the New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) will remain open from Wednesday, Dec. 24 through Sunday, Dec. 28 to help New Yorkers reach their winter holiday destinations. The five-day, lane-closure-free period follows Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s “Drivers First” initiative, which gives priority to motorists by ensuring that disruptions associated with highway and bridge projects are kept as minimal as possible.
While Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) will continue working in several areas of the project during the week of Dec. 22, none of the planned activities will result in the closure of any traffic lanes. No construction work is scheduled for Christmas Day, Thursday, Dec. 25, though safety and security teams will remain on site.
20-Minute closures of the north- and southbound Thruway and other lane closures scheduled for overnight Friday, Dec. 19
The removal of an overhead sign gantry near exit 10 in South Nyack will require the closure of three lanes of the southbound New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) during the overnight of Friday, Dec. 19. Two lanes will be closed at 9 p.m., followed by a third lane at 12 midnight. One lane will remain open, other than during the periodic complete closures detailed below. The three closed lanes will reopen at 7 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 20.
The operation also will require a series of 20-minute closures of all four lanes on both the north- and southbound Thruway between the hours of 11:59 p.m., Friday, December 19 and 6 a.m., Saturday, December 20. To ensure the safety of the public, the New York State Police will stop and hold all traffic approaching the gantry removal operation immediately before the closures go into effect. Motorists will be permitted to enter the Thruway from all ramps during the closures.
Travelers are advised that delays are likely on both directions of the Thruway during the overnight operation.
Continued Demolition of Westchester Landing of Existing Tappan Zee Bridge
Following the removal of sections of deck of the existing Tappan Zee Bridge to make way for the new bridge, the associated supporting piers are being demolished. The majority of this work, which will clear the path for the northbound bridge’s landing and first foundation pier, will be completed during daytime hours.
Pile Driving and Other Construction Activity
Construction will continue in the Hudson River as crews place the foundations of the new bridge. Work will include pile driving from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Wednesday and noon to 7 p.m., Saturday. No pile driving will occur on Christmas Day, Thursday, Dec. 25 or Friday Dec. 26.
A second shift of workers also will continue pile welding, pile cleanout and concrete placement operations associated with foundations.
Work is continuing on the new bridge’s landings on both sides of the river.
Additional work includes:
- Pile cap foundation construction
- Main span foundation construction
- River Road utility work
- Support for river-based work from the Rockland trestle
- Survey inspections on existing bridge
Boater Safety
The U.S. Coast Guard has established a Safety Zone surrounding 16 construction barge mooring locations at the project site. No unauthorized vessels are allowed in the Safety Zone. In addition, marine law enforcement will be enforcing the rules of the expanded Regulated Navigation Areas (RNAs) east and west of the Safety Zone. The RNAs stretch 500 yards north and 500 yards south of the existing bridge. Boaters are urged to transit the main channel with no wake at a maximum speed of 5 knots, and to use extreme caution on the river at all times.
More New NY Bridge boater safety information, including the U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners and construction site maps, can be found here at NewNYBridge.com. An interactive map showing vessel locations on the Hudson River is also available here for recreational and commercial boaters to get updated information on this very active construction zone. The GPS tracking map is for informational purposes and not intended for navigation.
Mariners also should be aware that TZC will continue work in the vicinity of the side channels under the existing bridge. Additional temporary navigational lights have been installed to further define the 600-foot navigation channel under the main span. Permanent elements of the new bridge are lit per U.S. Coast Guard requirements, as are all moorings, barges and other equipment.
All lane closures are subject to change due to traffic, weather or emergency situations. Please visit http://www.thruway.ny.gov/travelers/map/index.html?layer=incidents for real-time information regarding traffic conditions.
Traffic Updates for the Thanksgiving Holiday!
November 24, 2014 by
THREE LANES OF NORTHBOUND NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY (I-87/I-287) TO BE CLOSED OVERNIGHT MONDAY
All Lanes Remain Open from Wednesday, Nov. 25 to Monday, Dec. 1
for Thanksgiving Travel
During the overnight of Monday, Nov. 24, three lanes of the northbound New York State Thruway (I-87/ I-287) will be closed to accommodate restriping (i.e., applying lane markers) and a minor shifting of lanes. The triple-lane closure will be in effect from 11 p.m., Monday, Nov. 24 to 4:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 25 and will extend nearly five miles between exit 9 (Tarrytown Sleepy Hollow US Route 9) and exit 10 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W). One northbound travel lane will remain open throughout this period. The operation also will require the closure of the exit 10 off ramp from 10 p.m., Monday, Nov. 24 to 4:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 25. Exiting motorists will be directed to use exit 11 and follow signs to Route 9W and Route 59. In the event of rain or snow on Monday the above closures will move to Tuesday, Nov. 25.
No Thruway lane closures will occur from Wednesday, Nov. 26 to Monday, Dec. 1 in observance of the busy Thanksgiving holiday travel season as part of Governor Cuomo’s Drivers First Initiative, which focuses on the convenience of motorists to ensure that disruptions are as minimal as possible for drivers at highway and bridge construction projects across the state.
Work Continues on Stormwater Management Pond South of Thruway in Tarrytown
Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) has begun clearing a work zone immediately south of the Thruway in Tarrytown to prepare for the construction of a stormwater management pond. The pond will help control the flow of stormwater by collecting and retaining runoff. Excavation will follow the clearing and a retaining wall will be installed next spring. TZC will employ noise, dust and other mitigation techniques to minimize impacts to local residents.
Continued Demolition of Westchester Landing of Existing Tappan Zee Bridge
A small section of the existing Tappan Zee Bridge’s Westchester landing will be removed during overnight hours next Monday and Tuesday to make room for the new bridge. The work will require the closure of the northbound Thruway’s two right traffic lanes approaching the bridge to construct the abutment and the first foundation pier for the new northbound bridge, which is due to be completed late 2016. The two lanes will be closed between 8 p.m., Monday, Nov. 24 and 4:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 25 and 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 25.
Pile Driving and Other Construction Activity
Construction will continue in the Hudson River as crews place the foundations of the new bridge. Work will include pile driving between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday and noon to 7 p.m., Saturday.
A second shift of workers also will continue pile welding, pile cleanout and concrete placement operations associated with foundations.
Related to the Westchester landing work referenced above, work is continuing on the new bridge’s landings on both sides of the river. In Westchester, work includes drilling holes into the bedrock for the foundation of the landing. In Rockland, a similar operation is improving the strength of the soil by using aggregate piers, which are constructed with a drill that mixes soil and aggregate (i.e., crushed stone) to form a strong base for the new bridge’s abutment and foundation. The drilling process is less audible than impact pile driving and noise-reducing measures are being implemented to further minimize sound levels. The eight-week operation is anticipated to conclude in late November.
Additional work includes:
- Pile cap foundation construction
- Main span foundation construction
- River Road utility work
- Rockland trestle construction, including pile driving
- Support for river-based work from the Rockland trestle
- Survey inspections on existing bridge
Boater Safety
The U.S. Coast Guard has established a Safety Zone surrounding 16 construction barge mooring locations at the project site. No unauthorized vessels are allowed in the Safety Zone. In addition, marine law enforcement will be enforcing the rules of the expanded Regulated Navigation Areas (RNAs) east and west of the Safety Zone. The RNAs stretch 500 yards north and 500 yards south of the existing bridge. Boaters are urged to transit the main channel with no wake at a maximum speed of 5 knots, and to use extreme caution on the river at all times.
More New NY Bridge boater safety information, including the U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners and construction site maps, can be found here at NewNYBridge.com. An interactive map showing vessel locations on the Hudson River is also available here for recreational and commercial boaters to get updated information on this very active construction zone. The GPS tracking map is for informational purposes and not intended for navigation.
Mariners also should be aware that TZC will continue work in the vicinity of the side channels under the existing bridge. Additional temporary navigational lights have been installed to further define the 600-foot navigation channel under the main span. Permanent elements of the new bridge are lit per U.S. Coast Guard requirements, as are all moorings, barges and other equipment.
All lane closures are subject to change due to traffic, weather or emergency situations. Please visit http://www.thruway.ny.gov/travelers/map/index.html?layer=incidents for real-time information regarding traffic conditions.
Going Vertical First Columns Rise out of the Hudson
October 3, 2014 by
Following extensive pile installation and other foundation work in the Hudson River over the past year, the first permanent, vertical elements of the New NY Bridge are beginning to take shape: Two 40-foot steel cage towers now stand near the Westchester shore. Soon—with the addition of high-strength concrete—the first pier for the westbound span will be created.
“Everything we’ve been doing to date has been below the surface. This new work is giving people the first opportunity to see the bridge rising above the water,” noted Thruway Authority Construction Compliance Engineer Tom McGuinness.
The columns—over 130 in total—eventually will support the steel girders and deck of the new bridge. The girders and decking will be lifted in place by the soon-to-arrive I Lift NY super crane.
The steel cage frameworks for the piers are pre-assembled at a site several miles upriver. The rebar cages are transported to the project site by barge and lifted into place by floating cranes.
After the steel cages are carefully inspected, they are filled with concrete produced by the project’sfloating batch plants. Enclosing forms are erected around the frameworks to enable the concrete to set in the shape of the piers that will hold up the new twin-span structure.
The floating concrete batch plants maneuver around the river, mixing the precise amount of concrete required and using an extending arm to apply the material directly into the frameworks. The concrete flows around the steel cages and eventually hardens to form steel-reinforced concrete. The composite material is remarkably strong and capable of supporting the new bridge for the next century or more.
The New NY Bridge project remains on schedule and on budget as it approaches the one-year anniversary of new bridge construction that began with permanent pile installation in October 2013. Local residents can expect to see more and more vertical pier structures rise out of the river in the coming months as construction progress continues.
UPDATED: VIEWING PLATFORMS TAKE SHAPE AS CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ON THE NEW NY BRIDGE PROJECT
September 5, 2014 by
For immediate release: September 5, 2014
UPDATED: VIEWING PLATFORMS TAKE SHAPE AS CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ON THE NEW NY BRIDGE PROJECT
Construction on the New NY Bridge viewing platform in Nyack took another step forward this past week as Nyack officials broke ground on a new fishing pier in Memorial Park. The pier will be the site of the Rockland viewing platform. The plan for the site is the result of months of collaboration between village officials and the New NY Bridge project team
Viewing platforms in Nyack and at Scenic Hudson RiverWalk Park in Tarrytown will provide residents and visitors with an unobstructed and easily accessible view of the historic project’s progress and will include spotter’s guides, informational signs and high tech binoculars.
The installation of the new bridge’s pile caps will continue the week of Sept. 8. The caps, which cover the foundation piles installed in the river, are large hollow tubs that are fabricated offsite. The forms weigh several hundred tons and are barged to the project site for installation. Once in place, they are filled with reinforcing steel and concrete.
Construction will continue in the Hudson River as crews place the foundation for the New NY Bridge. Work will include pile driving between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday and 12 noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday.
A second shift of workers will also continue pile welding, pile cleanout and concrete placement operations associated with permanent foundations.
TZC will also continue construction on the new bridge’s Westchester landing, drilling holes into the bedrock for the foundation. This drilling process will produce less noise than the impact pile driving alternative, and TZC has installed sound mitigation to further reduce noise levels for the eight-week operation. The work will continue to the new westbound abutment in Westchester over the next few weeks.
Sheet pile installation at the Rockland landing is complete at this time. The sheet piles will allow TZC to excavate soil in that location and construct the westbound landing for the new bridge.
Work will continue on the Rockland work trestle near the shoreline, including pile driving and cofferdam installation. The trestle will support equipment used for the construction of the westernmost section of the new bridge.
The U.S. Coast Guard has established a Safety Zone surrounding 16 construction barge mooring locations at the project site. No unauthorized vessels are allowed in the Safety Zone. In addition, marine law enforcement will be enforcing the rules of the expanded Regulated Navigation Areas (RNAs) east and west of the Safety Zone. The RNAs stretch 500 yards north and 500 yards south of the existing bridge. Boaters are urged to transit the main channel with no wake at a maximum speed of five knots, and to use extreme caution on the river at all times.
More New NY Bridge boater safety information, including the U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners, and construction site maps, can be found here at NewNYBridge.com. An interactive map showing vessel locations on the Hudson River is also available here for recreational and commercial boaters to get updated information on this very active construction zone. The GPS tracking map is for informational purposes and not intended for navigation.
Mariners should be aware that TZC will continue work in the vicinity of the side channels under the existing bridge. Additional temporary navigational lights have been installed to further define the 600-foot navigation channel under the main span. Permanent elements of the new bridge are lit per U.S. Coast Guard requirements, as are all moorings, barges and other equipment.
Lane Closures for New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287):
| Monday | Sept 08 | Northbound, Left Lane near Exit 9 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Tuesday | Sept 09 | Northbound, Left Lane near Exit 9 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Wednesday | Sept 10 | Southbound, Right Lane near Exit 9 | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
Ongoing Operations:
- Permanent pile installation, including pile driving between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays, and between noon and 7 p.m. on Saturdays
- Pile Cap foundation construction
- Main Span foundation construction
- Rockland Landing construction
- Westchester landing construction
- River Road utility work
- Rockland trestle construction, including pile driving
- Survey inspections on existing bridge
- Support for river-based work from the Rockland trestle
WORK PROGRESSES ON RELOCATION OF NEW YORK STATE POLICE AND THRUWAY AUTHORITY TEMPORARY OPERATIONS FACILITIES
February 8, 2014 by
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For immediate release: February 7, 2014 Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) will ramp-up facility and site improvements in preparation for the temporary relocation of the New York State Police and New York State Thruway Authority maintenance facilities. The State Police and Thruway Authority operations will relocate from their current locations on South Broadway in Tarrytown, and Dockside off of River Road in South Nyack, respectively, to the old Journal News building, located off of exit 12 on Route 303 in Clarkstown. TZC is in the process of improving the building and surrounding site in anticipation of temporarily moving the operations early this summer. Plans for a permanent replacement facility in Tarrytown for both the State Police and the Thruway Authority are currently being designed.The existing facilities need to be removed to make way for construction of the New NY Bridge. Severe winter weather and icy conditions necessitate suspension of TZC’s marine operations. Work will resume on the river once temperatures rise and icy conditions allow for safe operations. During the suspension, TZC will maintain a safety crew that will monitor the weather’s impact on the site, reassessing conditions daily. Operations continue on both shore lines and include the creation of the hundreds of steel pipe piles and steel reinforcement materials for the bridge’s foundations.
Mariners should be aware that TZC will continue installing permanent piles in the vicinity of the side channels under the existing bridge, weather permitting. Pile driving will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays, and occasionally between noon and 7 p.m. on Saturdays. Additional temporary navigational lights have been installed to further define the 600-foot navigation channel under the main span. Both temporary and permanent piles are illuminated at night. The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a revised Notice to Mariners with updated safety information, including the establishment of a Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) — 300 yards north and 200 yards south of the existing Tappan Zee Bridge. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued a modified permit for additional temporary mooring locations during construction of the new bridge. All boaters are advised to use the main channel, reduce wake and use extreme caution while transiting the area. If necessary, the Coast Guard may temporarily prohibit all vessel traffic in the RNA for safety purposes. The Coast Guard boating safety information and the modified mooring permit map can be found on the project website at NewNYBridge.com under the “Boater Safety” icon. Ongoing Operations (weather permitting): • Rockland access ramp modifications
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GIANT FLOATING CRANE PREPARES FOR PASSAGE THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL, EN ROUTE TO NEW NY BRIDGE PROJECT
January 12, 2014 by
For immediate release: January 10, 2014
GIANT FLOATING CRANE PREPARES FOR PASSAGE THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL, EN ROUTE TO NEW NY BRIDGE PROJECT
The journey that began late last month for one of the world’s largest floating cranes continues as it prepares to pass through the Panama Canal this weekend.
The crane, known as the Left Coast Lifter, is expected to begin its passage through the Panama Canal as soon as Saturday, Jan. 11, and updated information on its journey will be available at NewNYBridge.com. It departed from Oakland, California, on Dec. 22, escorted by tug boats, and is expected to arrive in New York at the end of the January.
A fourth construction camera is now live and is also available on the project website. The public can stay up-to-date on the progress of the New NY Bridge project with views from this camera, which captures construction as viewed from Tarrytown, as well as through those already live from Rockland County, Westchester County and on the bridge. An interactive archive calendar also allows viewers to take a look back at progress already made.
As weather permits, Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) will continue construction of the foundation of the New NY Bridge with ongoing installation of permanent piles. TZC plans to begin full production again on Monday, Jan. 13, assuming temperatures rise and ice clears the river.
On Monday, Jan. 13 and Tuesday, Jan. 14, the southbound, right-hand lane and shoulder of the New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) near exit 10 in Nyack will be closed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Wednesday, Jan. 15 and Thursday, Jan. 16, the northbound, right-hand lane and shoulder of the Thruway (I-87/I-287) near exit 10 in Nyack will be closed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., to allow for work on the northbound maintenance ramp.
Mariners should be aware that TZC will be installing permanent piles in the vicinity of the side channels under the existing bridge. Pile driving will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays, and occasionally between noon and 7 p.m. on Saturdays. New temporary navigational lights have been installed to further define the 600-foot navigation channel under the main span. Both temporary and permanent piles are illuminated at night.
The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a revised Notice to Mariners with updated safety information, including the establishment of a Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) – 300 yards north and 200 yards south of the existing Tappan Zee Bridge. All boaters are advised to use the main channel, reduce wake and use extreme caution while transiting the area. If necessary, the Coast Guard may temporarily prohibit all vessel traffic in the RNA for safety purposes. The Coast Guard boating safety information can be found on the project website at NewNYbridge.com under the “Boater Safety” icon.
Ongoing Operations:
• Rockland access ramp modifications
• Armoring of dredge channel
• River Road utility work
• Test pile program
• Permanent pile installation
• Temporary Rockland trestle construction, including pile driving on weekdays 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Survey inspections on existing bridge
• Support for river-based work from the Rockland shoreline
• Reinforcement steel pre-assembly at bridge yard
Giant crane Left Coast Lifter on way to build new Tappan Zee Bridge
December 31, 2013 by
Ocean voyage expected to take 6 to 8 weeks
LoHud December 31, 2013 Theresa Juva Brown
The gargantuan crane that will help build the new Tappan Zee Bridge is on its way.
New video released by bridge builder Tappan Zee Constructors shows the Left Coast Lifter passing under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco this week as it begins its 6,000-mile voyage to the Hudson River. The journey is expected to take six to eight weeks. The 400-foot-long floating crane — one of the world’s largest — will travel down the West Coast, through the Panama Canal, across the Gulf of Mexico, up the East Coast and through New York Harbor.
The Left Coast Lifter, previously used on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge project, can lift 1,750 metric tons, or 12 times the weight of the Statue of Liberty. It will help install the huge deck panels on the new Tappan Zee and demolish the existing Tappan Zee in 2017.
The crane is owned by Fluor Corp. and American Bridge Co., two of the companies that make up Tappan Zee Constructors.
Read complete article here: http://www.lohud.com/article/20131231/NEWS02/312310014/Giant-crane-Left-Coast-Lifter-on-way-to-build-new-Tappan-Zee-Bridge-(video)?nclick_check=1
DREDGING OPERATIONS AND TEST PILE PROGRAM IMPACT PILE DRIVING CONTINUE
August 9, 2013 by
For immediate release: August 9, 2013
Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) will continue 24-hour-a day dredging operations in the Hudson River as part of the New NY Bridge Project.
The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a revised Notice to Mariners with updated safety information, including a request that boaters use the main channel, reduce wake and use extreme caution while transiting the area in the vicinity of the Tappan Zee Bridge.
The Coast Guard boating safety information can be found the project website, www.NewNYBridge.com under the boating safety icon.
Dredging will occur over a three-month period from August 1 through October 31 to avoid negatively impacting migration and spawning patterns of local sturgeon populations and other fish species.
Dredging crews will work 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week starting from the main navigation channel end of the dredging footprint towards the shoreline on both the Rockland and Westchester County sides of the bridge. The operations will deepen the river’s shallow water level in the work zone by removing sediment from the river bottom. The dredged materials are being properly disposed of at offsite locations.
Impact pile driving will continue this week as part of the ongoing test pile program and will continue through October 31 at various locations for future pile foundations. This work will be performed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and, at times, on Saturdays from 12 noon to 7 p.m. The test pile program will verify subsurface conditions and test structural load capacities in preparation for construction of the new bridge’s permanent foundation.
Ongoing operations:
· Test pile program
· Geotechnical land borings
· Rockland bulkhead construction (including fence & gates) and Dock Extension at Rockland (under existing bridge)
· Temporary Westchester trestle construction including pile driving on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
· Survey inspections on existing bridge
· Rockland and Westchester environmental monitor installations
· Mobilization at the exit 10 staging area
· Support for river-based work from the Rockland shoreline
Westchester:
Ongoing geotechnical boring activities will continue to support the developing design for the New NY Bridge Project.
Rockland:
TZC will continue fencing and sidewalk work along River Road in South Nyack north of the existing bridge. This work is part of the bulkhead construction area and will be performed between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. River Road will be limited at times to one lane with flag persons in place to control traffic safely.
Pile Driving Set To Begin This Week
July 26, 2013 by
For immediate release: July 26, 2013
TEST PILE PROGRAM IMPACT PILE DRIVING SET TO BEGIN,
ROCKLAND THRUWAY DOCK CONSTRUCTION GETTING UNDERWAY
Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) is scheduled to begin impact pile driving as part of the ongoing test pile operation this week. The test pile installation will continue over the next two to three months at the proposed locations of the foundations for the New NY Bridge. The test pile program will verify subsurface conditions in the river and the structural capacity of the pilings.
Under the Final Environmental Impact Statement, the hours of impact pile driving are restricted to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday and 12:00 noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday. There is no impact pile driving allowed at night or on Sundays. Noise monitors are in place along the Rockland and Westchester shorelines and the data is available at www.NewNYBridge.com.
Construction of the New York State Thruway’s temporary dock at the Rockland Maintenance facility on River Road in South Nyack will begin the week of July 29. TZC will reconstruct a maintenance dock that was damaged during Superstorm Sandy. This new dock will allow the Thruway to continue its normal maintenance work on the existing Tappan Zee as the construction activities for the New NY Bridge get underway.
Orange and Rockland Utilities will install new utility poles near River Road in South Nyack to support utility relocations which are needed for the New NY Bridge project. These operations may require temporary lane closures and will be performed by the utility.
Ongoing operations:
· Test pile program
· Rockland bulkhead construction
· Temporary Westchester trestle construction including pile driving on weekdays from
7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
· Survey inspections on existing bridge
· Rockland and Westchester environmental monitor installations
· Geotechnical land borings
· Mobilization at the exit 10 staging area
· Support for river-based work from the Rockland shoreline
Westchester:
Survey crews will be conducting surveys in the toll plaza area in Tarrytown on Wednesday, July 31 requiring temporary closures of toll lanes conducted one at a time.
Rockland:
Geotechnical boring operations to investigate subsurface soil conditions will be conducted in the northbound lanes of I-87/I-287 and will require a temporary lane closure between the existing bridge to Interchange 10 in South Nyack from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, July 29 through Wednesday, July 31. Southbound lane closures will be required from Interchange 10 to the existing bridge between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursday, August 1 and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, August 2.
NEW NY BRIDGE TEST PILE PROGRAM STARTS NEXT WEEK
July 12, 2013 by
For immediate release: July 12, 2013
NEW NY BRIDGE TEST PILE PROGRAM STARTS NEXT WEEK
Beginning the week of July 15, Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC will install the first test piles for the New NY Bridge.
The test pile operations will be conducted over the next three months at proposed locations for pile foundations. Work will start at the main span footings. Piles will be placed by utilizing both vibratory and impact installation techniques. The test pile program will verify subsurface conditions in preparation for the construction of the bridge’s permanent foundation.
Multiple crews will conduct night time boring operations along I-87/I-287 in both Westchester and Rockland Counties. The night time operations are necessary due to lane closure restrictions during day time hours that are in place to keep traffic flowing over the current bridge. Boring operations will begin at exit 10 in Rockland County and move west into Westchester County.
Ongoing operations
– Temporary Westchester trestle construction including pile driving on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
– Survey inspections on existing bridge
– Rockland environmental monitor installations continue
– Geotechnical land borings
– Mobilization at the exit 10 staging area
– Support for river-based work from the Rockland shoreline
Westchester:
Night time boring operations to investigate subsurface soil conditions will be conducted in the southbound shoulder of I-87/I-287 and will require a temporary right lane closure between the existing bridge and exit 9 on Friday, July 19 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Rockland:
Night time boring operations to investigate subsurface soil conditions will be conducted in the southbound shoulder of I-87/I-287 and will require a temporary right lane closure between exit 10 and the existing bridge from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. beginning Monday, July 15 through Thursday, July 18.
ONGOING PRECONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES CONTINUE ON THE NEW NY BRIDGE PROJECT
July 6, 2013 by
For immediate release: July 5, 2013
ONGOING PRECONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES CONTINUE ON THE NEW NY BRIDGE PROJECT
Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC, LLC) will continue preconstruction activities the week of July 8 in Westchester and Rockland Counties.
Ongoing operations:
– Cleaning and preparation for future construction of the Thruway’s Rockland Bulkhead
– Construction of the temporary Westchester work trestle which includes pile driving operations that will occur between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
– Survey inspections on existing bridge
– Rockland environmental monitor installations continue
– Geotechnical land borings
– Mobilization at the Exit 10 staging area
– Support for river-based work from the Rockland shoreline
Lane closures will be in place on the right lane of northbound I-87/I-287 on Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for installation of instrumentation to monitor the existing bridge during construction. Lane closures will also be in place on the southbound right lane of I-87/I-287 Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the same activity.
Residents will vote on Tappan Zee Bridge noise barriers
June 28, 2013 by
LoHud June 27, 2013 Written By Khurrum Saeed
http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013306270071
About 400 Rockland and Westchester residents have until July 11 to decide whether they want noise barriers on and near the new Tappan Zee Bridge.
Four areas are under consideration for the noise walls, which will range from 10 to 18 feet in height depending on their location, a project official said.
Different neighborhoods are voting on their noise barriers in their area. The vote is legally binding under federal law.
Residents have also been asked to choose a look for the barriers that will help guide the final design.
If approved, the $2 million noise walls would be part of the new $4 billion project to replace the Tappan Zee Bridge and would be added during its five-year construction phase.
Last year, a group of South Nyack residents successfully demanded to be included in the vote since their property — Salisbury Point Cooperative — sits along the Thruway and will be even closer to the new bridge than the existing span.
“They really got smart because of the ruckus that we raised,” Salisbury Point resident John Brown said of the state Thruway Authority.
Brown planned to cast his vote Thursday in favor of adding the extra layer of noise protection and sensed most people in his complex were with him.
Salisbury Point board president Catherine McCue said she was grateful the state reconsidered and involved them in the process, along with dozens of homeowners in South Nyack and Upper Grandview. In all, 268 people in Rockland were sent ballots and 106 in Westchester.
The barriers and their appearance were discussed at a Thursday night meeting at the Best Western hotel in Nyack.
Two meetings held in Westchester earlier this week brought out about 50 residents, some from The Quay and Tappan Landing Road complexes.
In order for the barriers to move ahead, at least 50 percent of the ballot holders must vote, and a simple majority must vote in favor of building them.
President of the Nyack Chamber of Commerce Blogs on the New TZ Bridge
June 17, 2013 by
Bridge Blog
By Scott Baird, Nyack Chamber of Commerce
In December of 2012, I was contacted by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office and asked to represent the Nyack Chamber of Commerce on a task force that was being assembled to study mass transit options on the new Tappan Zee Bridge. How could I say no? As a construction and real estate professional, this was the opportunity of a lifetime. A chance to see how historic infrastructure decisions are formulated and brought to life. A chance to see ‘how the sausage is made’ in local and state government.
The task force is a veritable ‘who’s who’ of local elected officials, non-profits dedicated to transit issues, development think tanks and business interests. Task force members include Patterns for Progress; the Business Council of Westchester; the Tri-State Transportation Campaign; Mayors from Nyack, South Nyack, White Plains, Elmsford and Tarrytown; Senator David Carlucci; Assembly members Ellen Jaffee and Amy Paulin; and Westchester, Putnam and Rockland County Executives, as well as transportation professionals from the MTA, Thruway Authority and Port Authority.
The group meets once a month as a full body. Subcommittees include one for finance, another for assembling data from previous studies, and a Rockland-specific subcommittee chaired by Nyack Mayor, Jen White. Task force meetings are generally open to the public, and the materials we work with are made available to the press.
It’s a significant that the Nyack Chamber of Commerce has representation on this body. Our involvement shows Governor Cuomo’s dedication to considering important issues from multiple viewpoints, including those of small business owners on Main Street.
Our task is broad and far-reaching: to develop short-range, mid-range and long-range action plans for mass transit along the I-287 corridor and from Rockland County into New York City, and to provide funding recommendations for those action plans. “Short-range” is defined as actions that can be completed in 5 years, to coincide with the opening of the new bridge. “Mid-range” has a slightly longer implementation period ― 5 to 15 years ― and “long-range” is defined as 15 years or more. Complete recommendations are to be presented to the Governor’s office by the end of 2013.
The decisions made over the next several years by this task force and other elected and appointed groups will have a major impact on Nyack, Rockland County and the mid-Hudson region for decades to come. You don’t have to look far for related examples. The development patterns created by Metro North, the Long Island Railroad and New Jersey Transit amply demonstrate the power of mass transportation. And as we know all too well in Rockland, a lack of mass transportation can have an equally powerful effect.
It’s my intent through this blog to help businesses and residents in Nyack and Rockland County understand the options under discussion and their potential impact, and to solicit your input in this process. In my next blog entry, I’ll share data from several studies on existing mass transit usage ― very interesting stuff!
Scott Baird is President of the Nyack Chamber of Commerce and is a Commercial Realtor with Rand Commercial Services. You can reach him at scott.baird@randcommercial.com and the Chamber at www.nyackchamber.org.
LARGE CRANES START TO ARRIVE ON THE HUDSON RIVER THIS WEEK
June 17, 2013 by
Two large barge-mounted cranes that will be used to place permanent piles for the substructure of the New NY Bridge Project will arrive throughout the next two weeks. Upon arrival, crews will start to assemble each crane and moor them until the test pile operations begin in mid-July. The cranes will be moored on the north side of the bridge closer to the Rockland County side of the Hudson River.
Neither of these cranes are the Left Coast Lifter, which is set to arrive late this year.
Work will also begin next week on the New York State Thruway Authority’s Rockland bulkhead area located on River Road in South Nyack. Work includes clearing of the site and construction of a larger bulkhead that will be used for staging of equipment.
Ongoing operations:
– Construction of the temporary Westchester work trestle which includes pile driving operations occurring weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
– Survey inspections on existing bridge
– Environmental monitoring activities
– Geotechnical land borings
– Mobilization at the Exit 10 staging area
– Support for river-based work from the Rockland shoreline
Westchester:
Limited geotechnical analysis boring operations continue this week on Thruway property and will not require lane closures. Work activities will be conducted between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Rockland:
Limited geotechnical analysis boring operations continue this week on Thruway property and will not require lane closures due to work being performed behind barriers. Crews will also inspect and clean the 72-foot storm sewer line that services the existing Thruway property. Work is scheduled between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
HUDSON RIVER TEST BORINGS FOR THE NEW NY BRIDGE COMPLETED
June 8, 2013 by
For Immediate Release: June 7, 2013
HUDSON RIVER TEST BORINGS FOR THE NEW NY BRIDGE COMPLETED
The New York State Thruway Authority and Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) have announced that test boring operations in the Hudson River have been completed. The borings in the river are part of the pre-construction geotechnical work that began in late March. Crews will, however, continue test borings on land in both Rockland and Westchester and continue installing bridge monitoring devices in the Hudson River as part of the pre-construction engineering.
Work continues on the temporary Westchester trestle. The trestle is a work platform that will support a crane for the construction of the new bridge. The 1,000-foot long platform reduces the amount of dredging required and allows crews to work from the water and not from the Westchester shoreline. Work on the Westchester trestle will include daytime pile driving to install the temporary foundation piles needed to support the platform. Pile driving will be limited to the hours between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Environmental monitors continue to be installed in Rockland County as the Thruway Authority and Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) finalize specific installation locations. The monitors continually record noise, vibration and air quality for the duration of the project. All readings can be viewed at www.NewNYbridge.com.
Westchester:
Surveying, utility exploration and test boring work continues for the New NY Bridge Project during the week of June 10 in Tarrytown. The work being performed in the shoulder area will require a temporary right lane closure on southbound I-87/I-287 between the existing Tappan Zee Bridge and the Route 9 Bridge on Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Rockland:
Mobilization work continues at Exit 10 where TZC will store materials for construction, trailers for work operations and equipment as well as use the staging area for employee parking. Support for river-based work from the Rockland shoreline will continue the week of June 10.
Surveying, utility exploration and test boring work continues for the New NY Bridge Project during the week of June 10 in South Nyack. The work being performed in the shoulder area will require a temporary right lane closure on southbound I-87/I-287 between Interchange 11 and S. Broadway Bridge on Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tappan Zee builders eye private, public parcels as staging areas
May 8, 2013 by
LoHud May 8, 2013
Written by Theresa Juva-Brown and Khurram Saeed
Tappan Zee Constructors is eyeing several riverfront locations for construction staging areas, including land owned by Haverstraw where parts of the new bridge could assembled and floated to work sites, officials said.
The bridge project team has shown interest in the 10-acre, former site of the Empire State Chair Factory, but no “hard offers” have been made, Haverstraw village attorney Jay Hood Jr. said.
“We’d love to see the site go to use because it’s sitting there vacant,” he said. “The village is very interested in that because it would bring in very significant revenue.”
About 20 trucks using village streets would deliver bridge parts to the site likely every few weeks. After the parts were put together, they would be shipped downriver, Hood said.
Paul Adler, vice president of Rand Commercial Services, said TZC is also interested in the former Lovett plant property in Tomkins Cove. He said the riverfront property owned by NRG Energy also could be a good staging area for the project, but it remains unclear what NRG wants to do with it.
An NRG Energy spokesman told The Journal News in April the company was considering building a new, gas-fired generating station on the site, which has been vacant since the coal-fired generating station was demolished in 2008. A company spokesman did not return a call seeking comment on Tuesday.
On the other side of the river, project officials are looking for areas where they can load crews onto boats to take them to work sites. Tarrytown officials said TZC had proposed using a public section of RiverWalk Park in Tarrytown, but the plan would have required approval from state legislators and Scenic Hudson, which has rights to the walk.
TZC spokeswoman Carla Julian said that “at this point TZC has no plans to pursue the use of public parkland for staging operations.”
She said she could not discuss possible staging locations until agreements are finalized.
Sleepy Hollow administrator Anthony Giaccio said the River’s Edge property is being considered as place for staging workers. National Resources is currently developing the site as a condominium complex. It also owns Hudson Harbor, the neighboring riverfront condo complex in Tarrytown.
The company did not return requests seeking comment.
Long-term agreements for staging areas won’t be the first deals TZC makes with local property owners. Project crews are already using Petersen’s Boat Yard & Marina in Upper Nyack and the Tarrytown Boat and Yacht Club Marina, officials said.