Archives for October 2013

As New Bridge Construction Begins, Boaters Must Practice Defensive Driving

October 30, 2013 by

New City Patch , Posted by  (Editor) , 

New City Patch Article Here

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With permanent piles for the New Tappan Zee Bridge now going in, navigating the Hudson is getting increasingly more challenging.

There’s a very necessary and informative forum on Hudson River Boating Safety Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Tarrytown Village Hall at One Depot Plaza.

Bridge officials in their latest weekly press release advised mariners to exercise extreme caution where the new piles are going in – “in the vicinity of the side channels under the existing bridge.”

“New temporary navigational lights have been installed to further define the 600’ navigation channel under the main span. Both temporary and permanent piles are illuminated at night.”

The U.S. Coast Guard recently issued revised safety information, establishing a “Regulated Navigation Area” from 300 yards north of the bridge to 200 yards south:

“All boaters are advised to use the main channel, reduce wake and use extreme caution while transiting the area. If necessary, the Coast Guard in the future may temporarily prohibit all vessel traffic in the RNA for safety purposes.”

More boating safety information can be found on theNewNYBridge website here, including exact lighting regulations and approved mooring locations.

And for a previous Patch article on the difficulties of navigating the waters at night, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The first permanent piles for the New Tappan Zee Bridge are going in this week.

October 17, 2013 by

Tarrytown-Sleepy Hollow Patch; Posted by (Editor) , 

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The big news on today’s media boat tour of the work surrounding the Tappan Zee Bridge was that construction is now officially underway for the new bridge.

All the action we’ve been seeing for months in the river has been preconstruction work – test piling, geotechnical investigations, dredging. Just this week, permanent piles are being vibrated, and then pounded, in place to begin forming the bridge’s foundation.

“This week, we are putting shovels in the ground and starting formal construction on a new bridge to replace the Tappan Zee, the largest infrastructure project New York State has undertaken in decades,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a press release following the tour, which was cut a little short due to the threat of rain.

“After more than a decade of delay, New York State has moved this project forward at a dramatic pace while working with the community, involving the public and protecting the local environment,” Cuomo said. “Once completed, drivers in Rockland, Westchester and surrounding areas will finally have a safer, less congested bridge that will include a walkway for pedestrians and bikers and accommodates future mass transit.”

The project, said Thruway Authority Chairman Howard Milstein, is on track with a projected build timeline in place of just under five years.

Bridge cam anyone? You can watch the progress up close as it happens on a new ‘Construction Camera’ section of the New NY bridge website.

The specifics of the five-year timeline to date:

· Dredging to prepare for bridge construction is ongoing until November 1, and will also take place during August, September and October, 2014.
· October 2013: Main span permanent pile installation begins
· November 2013: Permanent pile installation begins for approaches
· March 2014: Work begins on approach substructure
· June 2014: Work begins on main span substructure
· September 2014: Work begins for erection of superstructure
· Late 2014 / early 2015: Work begins on cable stay installation
· Late 2016: Complete north span
· December 2016: Relocate westbound traffic to new north span
· February 2017: Relocate existing eastbound traffic to new north span
· February 2017: Start demolition of existing bridge
· Late 2017: Both spans complete
· November 2017: Relocate eastbound traffic from new north span to new south span
· April 2018: Physical completion of project
· July 2018: Final acceptance of project

There are reports that one of the world’s largest floating cranes, the Left Coast Lifter, is in Virginia now, ever so slowly making its way upriver for the biggest show we’ll see yet.

Read complete article here:

http://tarrytown.patch.com/groups/tappan-zee-bridge/p/construction-for-new-tappan-zee-bridge-begins-now

Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Parking TZ Construction workers a challenge in Tarrytown

October 15, 2013 by

October 12, 2013 Theresa Juva-Brown

The consortium building the new Tappan Zee Bridge is learrning that finding parking for its workers can feel just as complicated as dredging the bottom of the Hudson River.

Tappan Zee Constructors is already renting an office and 135 parking spaces on the property of Hudson Harbor, a condominium complex in Tarrytown. To accommodate the growing number of construction workers, TZC wants to add up to 165 parking spaces there.

But doing so would violate Tarrytown’s zoning code, which calls for that vacant area to eventually be used for condominiums, village officials say.

The rule also requires that Hudson Harbor’s parking lots be used by people who live or work there.

The new parking area would be used by bridge workers who would take boats from a nearby pier to construction sites on the river.

“What’s embedded in the zoning code is the municipal desire not to have parking lots all over the place — that’s why (Hudson Harbor) is not zoned for parking and it’s slated for development,” Tarrytown Mayor Drew Fixell said. “Having a parking lot for construction work on the Tappan Zee Bridge was not envisioned for this.”

Fixell noted that there were other parking areas TZC could consider in or near the village, but those options may not be as convenient and could involve paying for permits.

TZC declined to comment on the parking proposal. State officials and a Hudson Harbor spokesman did not respond to requests for comment.

Village Administrator Mike Blau said trustees would have to approve a zoning code amendment to allow the new lot. He added that several Hudson Harbor residents have expressed to him their concern about the idea.

Trustees are expected to discuss TZC’s proposal next week and make a decision in the coming weeks, Blau said.

 

Read complete article here: http://www.lohud.com/article/20131012/NEWS/310120108

Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

New Tappan Zee Bridge spurs interest in nearby commercial parcels; Vacant commercial sites now sold, leased

October 15, 2013 by

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LoHud October 15, 2013 Written by Theresa Juva-Brown

The Tappan Zee Bridge replacement project is giving new life to vacant commercial properties that have languished since the Great Recession.

The site of the former Lovett power plant in Stony Point, for instance, sat unused for years before bridge builder Tappan Zee Constructors recently signed a lease with NRG Energy to assemble bridge pieces there. As part of the deal, Stony Point could collect up to $500,000 in permit fees over the next five years.

It’s been a similar situation in West Nyack, where the former Journal News printing plant at 160 N. Route 303 hasn’t had a tenant in three years, said Timothy Hauser of the Hauser Bros., the real estate investment company that owns the site.

That will change this spring, when state police and the New York State Thruway Authority temporarily move from Tarrytown to the 42,000-square foot warehouse that is currently being renovated.

Tappan Zee Constructors is relocating those operations because it plans to tear down the current barracks/Thruway offices on North Broadway and use the area for bridge construction equipment.

“We’re giving them a piece of property at a fair market value rate, and they are taking the expenses off my lap that I have to struggle to pay,” Hauser said of the parcel on Route 303 near Thruway Exit 12. Just before the deal was reached in April, the asking price for the warehouse was $6.25 per square foot, according to the website of Rand Commercial Services, which was involved with the agreement.

Hauser said the five-year lease could be extended, but for now the site’s future remains wide open.

“It’s one of the best locations in the entire county for any type of business — a car dealer, hotel. It’s a discussion already,” he said.

The recent deals, even if they are for just five years, help the local real estate industry but also the region’s optimism about the overall economy, said Paul Adler, vice president of Rand Commercial.

“People are understanding that this is the beginning of the growth,” he said. “What we’re seeing is just enough to nudge us out of this recession.”

“There is income, and there is enough time to plan what to do after five years now that the landlord has cash flow,” he added. “These 5-year injections of confidence in the market are going to spur smart growth.”

The new bridge, especially the thousands of workers the project will bring, helped convince Howard Josephs to purchase a commercial parcel in Nyack last month.

Josephs, a partner with Josephs Group, bought slightly less than an acre near Route 59 and Waldron Avenue.

A gas station and fast food joint once operated there, but the site has been dormant for years, he said.

After the land is remediated this winter, he plans to build a 5,000-square foot restaurant and retail center.

He declined to disclose how much he paid for the site.

“It’s a very busy corner, and we see it as the gateway to Nyack,” he told The Journal News. “I think the bridge (project) will definitely bring a lot of people for a number of years.”

The project is also giving a lift to property owners in Westchester.

Tappan Zee Constructors moved into its main office on White Plains Road in Tarrytown this spring and is leasing a satellite office on the grounds of Hudson Harbor, a residential complex on the Tarrytown waterfront.

Farrokh Hormozi, an economics professor at Pace University in Pleasantville, said property owners who are leasing instead of selling is a sign that they expect their assets to gain significant value after the new bridge is completed. He said more businesses and people will want to live and work near the future Tappan Zee. “It’s all facilitated by a more comfortable ride across the bridge,” he said.

Read complete article here:http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201310142341/NEWS/310140063

 

Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

TZ Bridge Pre-Construction Activities Continue

October 11, 2013 by

The new NY bridge

For immediate release: October 11, 2013

NEW NY BRIDGE PROJECT
PRE-CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES CONTINUE

 

Second shift operations will continue on the river from 3:30 p.m. to 12 midnight on weekdays in preparation for permanent construction activities.

This work is primarily to support activities for the daytime pile driving operations and is limited by the project’s noise level restrictions. Pile driving will be limited to the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and, occasionally, from 12 noon to 7 p.m. on Saturdays.

Construction of the Rockland County trestle will continue. This work will include daytime pile driving to install the temporary foundation piles needed to support the platform. The trestle is a work platform that will support a crane for the construction of the westernmost section of the new bridge. The 1200-foot long platform helps reduce the amount of dredging required.

From Tuesday, October 15 to Friday, October 18, one southbound right hand lane and shoulder on I-87/I-287 between exit 9 and exit 11 will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for shoulder work.

Additionally, utility work will continue on River Road in South Nyack. This work will be performed from 6:30 a.m. to approximately 6 p.m. for the next three weeks and has been coordinated with and approved by the Village of South Nyack. The work will reduce the roadway to one lane during daytime hours and flaggers will be onsite to safely direct motorists on River Road. During non-work hours, the road will have temporary coverings in place that may create uneven surfaces. Motorists and bicyclists should slow down and use extreme caution in the area.

Mariners should be aware that TZC will be installing piles in the vicinity of the side channels. 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 in the future 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, NewNYBridge.com, under the boating safety icon.

E-ZPass tags are now available for purchase at the New NY Bridge Community Outreach Centers in Tarrytown and Nyack.

The pre-packaged E-ZPass tags can be purchased for $25 and are ready for immediate use. E-ZPass users avoid delays when traveling through toll plazas, receive a discount on every Thruway toll they pay, and enjoy the convenience of using E-ZPass in fifteen states: Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia.

E-ZPass tags have a $25 value and are active upon purchase. The first $15 is immediately available for toll usage, and the remaining $10 becomes available once the tag is registered online or by phone. E-ZPass provides a five percent savings on Thruway tolls and offers toll discounts on many other roadways.

The Community Outreach Centers for the new bridge project were established last year as a gathering place and source of information for the community regarding the New NY Bridge. They are located at:

• 303 South Broadway in Tarrytown, and
• 142 Main Street in Nyack.

The centers are open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ongoing operations:

• Dredging operations will continue 24/7

• Test pile program

• Rockland Dock Extension under existing bridge

• Temporary Rockland trestle construction including pile driving on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Temporary Westchester trestle construction including pile driving on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Survey inspections on existing bridge

• Support for river-based work from the Rockland shoreline

Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

TZC CREWS SAVES UNMOORED BOATS

October 5, 2013 by

update

For immediate release: October 4, 2013

TZC CREWS SAVES UNMOORED BOATS

Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) crews helped rescue two boats that became unmoored near the Tappan Zee Bridge this past week.

On September 25, crews spotted a sail boat approaching the dredging area surrounding the Tappan Zee Bridge. After attempting communications and determining that no one was onboard, TZC’s safety team secured the boat and towed it to a tugboat. TZC then contacted the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office and the Coast Guard to track down the owner of the vessel. Later in the week, another unmoored vessel was secured by TZC and safely returned to its owners.

TZC crews will begin second shift operations on the river from 3:30 p.m. to 12 midnight on weekdays in preparation for permanent construction activities. This work is primarily support activities for the daytime pile driving operations and is limited by the project’s noise level restrictions. Pile driving will be limited to the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and, occasionally, from 12 noon to 7 p.m. on Saturdays.

Construction of the Rockland County trestle will continue. This work will include daytime pile driving to install the temporary foundation piles needed to support the platform. The trestle is a work platform that will support a crane for the construction of the westernmost section of the new bridge. The 1200-foot long platform helps reduce the amount of dredging required.
From Monday, October 7 to Wednesday, October 9, one southbound right hand lane and shoulder on I-87/I-287 between exit 12 and the Tappan Zee Bridge will be closed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for shoulder work.

Additionally, utility work will continue on River Road in South Nyack. This work will continue through November and will involve reducing the roadway to one lane during daytime hours. During non-work hours, the road will have temporary coverings in place that may create uneven driving surfaces. Motorists and bicyclists should slow down and use extreme caution in the area.

Mariners should be aware that TZC will be installing piles in the vicinity of the side channels. Both temporary and permanent pile are illuminated at night. Boaters should use extreme caution and only use the main channel for transiting the area.

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 required to use the main channel, reduce wake and use extreme caution while transiting the area.

If necessary, the Coast Guard in the future 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, NewNYBridge.com, under the boating safety icon.

Ongoing operations:
• Dredging operations will continue 24/7
• Test pile program
• Rockland Dock Extension under existing bridge
• Temporary Rockland trestle construction including pile driving on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Temporary Westchester trestle construction including pile driving on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Survey inspections on existing bridge
• Support for river-based work from the Rockland shoreline

Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

The New York Bridge Quarterly Newsletter

October 2, 2013 by

The New NY Bridge Newsletter

 

Quarterly Marketing Report

The NewNYBridge releases it quarterly Newsletter.

Check out the construction progress and what the future holds for the TappanZee Bridge project.

Visit: www.TheNewNyBridge.com

 

Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
Some property information provided by CoStar, Loopnet, HGAR, Yelp, Rand Commercial Services and other public sources.