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.