The New NY Bridge November 2015 Newsletter

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November 2015
New NY Bridge Project Monthly Newsletter
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As more and more piers are connected by steel-blue girder assemblies, the New NY Bridge project’s iconic towers continue to advance skyward.

As the summer turns to fall in the Lower Hudson Valley, progress continues to march forward on the New NY Bridge project. More and more of the high strength structural steel-blue girder assemblies are being placed across the Hudson River by Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC), largely with the help of the massive I Lift NY super crane. At both shorelines, however-where shallow waters prevent the use of the super crane-alternate methods were necessary, including the use of construction platforms. The Westchester landing posed a further shoreline challenge: how to safely install the girders over the Metro-North Railroad Hudson Line tracks?

While most of the new bridge’s steel-blue girder assemblies are being placed across the Hudson River with the barge-based I Lift NY super crane, the location from the Westchester landing to the first pier in the river is inaccessible to the monumental machine. Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC is using an innovative yet simple alternative method to install the girders in this area, as detailed in this video.

New NY Bridge fans looking for a firsthand view of construction from the Rockland shoreline now have a “front row seat” to the action. Nyack’s new fishing pier at Memorial Park is now open and offers spectators a sweeping view of the Hudson River and the bustling project site.

After successfully installing structural steel girders between the Westchester abutment and a nearby pier, Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) moved forward with the next stage of operations this week. In a remarkable feat of engineering, crews carefully pushed the massive steel-blue materials further west, over the Metro-North Railroad Hudson Line and toward the next pier in the Hudson River.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
Why does the current Tappan Zee Bridge need to be replaced? 
A:
The Governor Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge opened to traffic in 1955 and is a vital artery for residents, commuters, travelers, and commercial traffic. The bridge, which was designed to carry up to 100,000 vehicles per day, currently handles an average of 138,000 daily, and traffic congestion and delays are regular occurrences. Heavy traffic, narrow lanes and the lack of emergency shoulders contribute to congestion and frustration for motorists and can create unsafe driving conditions. As a result, the bridge has twice the average accident rate per mile as the rest of the 574-mile Thruway system. In recent years, hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent to maintain and repair the bridge. If the current bridge were not being replaced, the state would need to spend an additional $3 to $4 billion over the next 20 years to ensure its structural integrity.
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