The New NY Bridge Newsletter for January 2017

January 5, 2017 by
January 2017
New NY Bridge Project Monthly Newsletter
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Governor Cuomo Announces Milestone:
Completion Of Eight Main Span Towers
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the New NY Bridge has reached a major milestone with the topping off of the eight main span towers. The New NY Bridge is on track to open in 2018 and on budget at $3.98 billion.

A New Bridge for the New Year:

The project team is looking forward to another year of progress on the twin-span replacement of the original Tappan Zee Bridge, including the completion of the westbound span.

Smooth Ride:

Motorists on the Tappan Zee Bridge may be familiar with the rhythmic bumps in the existing bridge’s roadway. These interruptions are the result of nearly 200 expansion joints, which are designed to absorb the slight expansion and contraction of the bridge’s steel and concrete. Drivers can expect a much smoother ride in the future thanks to the dramatic reduction of expansion joints on the new bridge.

Season of Giving:

The New NY Bridge project team is supporting local charities to make the holidays a little more joyous for those in need in our communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
How will the project reduce traffic congestion? 
A:
The existing bridge has only seven lanes, some of which are narrower than the current standard lane width of 12 feet. The new bridge will have eight, 12-foot-wide lanes and wider shoulders. The shoulders of the new crossing will greatly reduce the traffic impact of disabled vehicles and accidents, which can cause massive tie-ups on the existing bridge. The incline approaching the main span will not be as steep, allowing large trucks to maintain consistent speed and reduce engine and braking noise. The ability of trucks to maintain highway speed will also reduce speed differential with passenger vehicles which lessens lane changes and potential for accidents. There will also be gently banked curves to further smooth traffic flow and reduce accidents. In addition, the new bridge is being built with space to accommodate dedicated bus lanes. In April 2016, cashless tolling went into effect on the existing bridge, and this will be a feature of the new bridge, eliminating the need for eastbound drivers to slow down or stop and idle at a toll plaza.

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 New NY Bridge Community Outreach Centers
View the latest issues of the
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HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Follow Us on Twitter
and Instagram 
Call the Project Hotline
1-855-TZBRIDGE
(1-855-892-7434)
Westchester: 2 N. Broadway, Tarrytown, NY
Rockland: 142 Main Street, Nyack, NY
Mon-Fri: 11am-7pm | Sat-Sun: 11am-4pm


Visit the Project Website
Email Us
Scenic Hudson RiverWalk Park, Tarrytown, NY
Memorial Park, Nyack, NY
©2017 New York State Thruway Authority
Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The New NY Bridge November Newsletter

November 15, 2016 by
November 2016
New NY Bridge Project Monthly Newsletter
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I Lift NY Returns:
Super Crane Installs Road Deck Panels Near Rockland Shoreline
Following the successful completion of its phase one girder operations, the project’s largest crane has returned to familiar territory to help crews with road deck installation.
Topping Off the First Set of Towers:

Tappan Zee Constructors recently completed the first two 419-foot towers of the iconic main span. Our new time-lapse video captures the evolution of the westbound (Rockland-bound) towers aided by the project’s blue self-climbing jump forms.
Approach-ing Completion:

The New NY Bridge project reached a major milestone with the installation of the final steel-blue girder assembly for the new westbound approach span.
Project Progress 2016:

The New NY Bridge project has become a symbol for what the state can accomplish. Watch the new twin-span crossing take shape during the past three years in this new time-lapse video. From steel girders to concrete towers, from piles to road deck, from shoreline to shoreline, the transformation has been amazing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
How will the project reduce traffic congestion?        
A:
The existing bridge has only seven lanes, some of which are narrower than the current standard width of 12 feet. The new bridge will have eight 12-foot-wide lanes. The wide shoulders of the new crossing will greatly reduce the traffic impact of disabled vehicles and accidents, which can cause massive tie-ups on the existing bridge. The incline over the main span will not be as steep, allowing large trucks to maintain consistent speed and reduce engine and braking noise. There will also be gently banked curves to help smooth traffic flow and reduce accidents as well as a cashless tolling system to eliminate the need for drivers to slow down or stop at a toll plaza. In addition, the new bridge is being built with the structural capacity to handle commuter rail, light rail, or bus rapid transit.
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Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , ,

New NY Bridge October Newsletter

October 11, 2016 by
October 2016
New NY Bridge Project Monthly Newsletter
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High Points:
Aerial Views of Tower Progress
Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) is one step closer to completing the twin-span crossing as the new bridge’s westbound towers reach their ultimate height, 419 feet above the Hudson River. Crews are putting the finishing touches on the upper sections of the towers and removing the blue jump forms when the operations are complete. TZC is scheduled to complete all four westbound towers within the coming weeks.

Raising the Road:

While the large and powerful I Lift NY super crane continues to raise enormous, 410-foot sections of steel above the Hudson River, a far smaller and swifter machine, called a derrick crane, is hard at work on an equally important task – installing hundreds of road deck panels to form the base driving surface of the bridge.

Building in Safety:

As the New NY Bridge project continues to makeremarkable progress above the Hudson River, crews are installing several safety features on the crossing.
These features are the result of the project’s close collaboration with local and regional first responders during the bridge’s design development phase.

Building the Sound Barrier:

Prior to the start of New NY Bridge construction in 2013, Rockland and Westchester residents living near the project site voted overwhelmingly in favor of new permanent barriers to reduce highway traffic noise. Today, progress on the barriers is readily apparent in South Nyack.

First Channel Closure:

The first full closure of the main navigational channel occurred this September. Approximately 70 closures are anticipated through the end of 2017 as project crews install new sections of structural steel and road deck panels between the towers of the new crossing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
How many lanes will the new bridge have?       
A:
The new twin-span bridge will have eight general traffic lanes – four in each direction. Space will also be provided for disabled vehicles, emergency responders and express buses and/or bus rapid transit. There will also be a shared-use path for bicycles and pedestrians.
Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

New NY Bridge Project August 2016 Newsletter

August 5, 2016 by
August 2016
New NY Bridge Project Monthly Newsletter
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Shaping Up:
Aerial Photos Capture Project Progress
The outline of the new twin-span crossing is emerging this summer as the project continues to make remarkable progress on the Hudson River. The Rockland and Westchester approaches continue to grow with rows of steel girders and hundreds of precast road deck panels. At the main span towers, crews are also installing sections of steel and roadway, and preparing the area for the new stay cable system.

Stay Cable Installation Begins:

The New York State Thruway Authority announced that Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC has completed installation of the first stay cables on the New NY Bridge project. The stay cables, along with the 419-foot towers, will be the most prominent features of the new 3.1-mile structure. The first two stay cables were installed by TZC on the new northbound bridge’s main span on Thursday, July 21, 2016.

Reaching New Heights:

In just half a year, Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC has transformed the New NY Bridge project site by connecting piers, installing road deck panels and doubling the height of the new main span towers. The iconic structures now rise above the existing Tappan Zee Bridge, with TZC preparing to install the first of nearly 200 stay cables.

“Front Row Seat” to Progress:

With summer in full swing, the New NY Bridge project is making its most visible advancements to date. Those keen on observing the progress firsthand have a “front row seat” to the action, through the project’s viewing platforms and outreach centers in Tarrytown and Nyack.
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 140,000 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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New NY Bridge Monthly Newsletter July 2016

July 19, 2016 by
July 2016
New NY Bridge Project Monthly Newsletter
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Rising Roadway:
Work Begins on Main Span Steel
Tappan Zee Constructors (TZC) has begun building the roadway for the new bridge’s main span.
In June, TZC installed four large pre-assembled sections of steel, weighing nearly 340,000 pounds each, atop the main span crossbeams. These steel segments will allow the team to build out from the towers one section at a time, attaching stay cables to the structure along the way. Precast concrete deck panels will be placed in the erected steel sections to provide a base driving surface.
Project Update 2016:

The New NY Bridge project has made extraordinary progress over the past year, with more than a mile of steel girders in place and new towers rising above the existing Tappan Zee Bridge. You can see the transformation for yourself in this narrated video.

Shared-Use Path Terminus Designs Selected:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that “Alternative F” was selected as the design for the New NY Bridge project’s shared-use path connections in Westchester and Rockland. The decision followed a thorough review of the alternative’s impacts and benefits to the local communities.

Safe Passage:

This Independence Day weekend, the U.S. Coast Guard, the New York State Thruway Authority, Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) and local law enforcement are reminding boaters of the safety measures near the extremely active work site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
How much will the new bridge cost?    
A:
The project cost is $3.98 billion. This includes bridge design-builder Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC’s (TZC) contract cost of $3.142 billion and $600 to $800 million in owner’s (New York State Thruway Authority) costs, which cover project management, oversight, a contingency fund and some financing costs.
Filed Under: Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Continues Cashless Tolling System Now In Effect

May 6, 2016 by

The new NY bridge

Tarrytown Toll Plaza Demolition ContinuesCashless Tolling System Now In Effect

http://www.newnybridge.com/tarrytown-toll-plaza-demolition-continues-cashless-tolling-system-now-in-effect/Demolition of the deactivated toll plaza in Tarrytown continues as Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) removes the toll plaza structures on the four right-most lanes of the southbound New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) in preparation for the next shift in traffic, which is scheduled to occur in late May.

Survey work in the area will necessitate a midday lane closure, detailed in the chart below.

LANE CLOSURES NEAR THE TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE

DATE: CLOSURES BEGIN: CLOSURES END: LOCATION:
Tue., 5/10 10 a.m. – One right lane 3 p.m. Southbound Thruway
near the former toll plaza

Noise Barrier Construction
TZC will continue constructing noise barriers along the Thruway in South Nyack next week. The work includes constructing noise barrier foundations and excavating soil along the southbound Thruway between the South Broadway bridge and River Road. After the foundations are established, concrete panels that form the noise barriers will be installed. The barriers will be treated with sound-absorbing material to further reduce traffic noise to the nearby community.

TZC also will continue constructing foundation walls for the future highway and shared-use path along the northbound Thruway in South Nyack. The operation is scheduled to continue in the coming months.

Additional work includes:

  • Main span tower construction
  • Support for river-based work from the Rockland trestle
  • Rockland landing retaining walls
  • Survey inspections on the existing bridge
  • Westchester landings utility work
  • Girder assembly placement
  • Bridge road deck installation
  • Drainage structure installations

Boater Safety
Marine units are continuing patrols to monitor the construction zone and encourage all boaters to obey the established U.S. Coast Guard safety protocols.

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.

Mariners also should be aware that TZC will continue work in the vicinity of the side channels under the existing bridge. TZC will also be working in the area left and right of the main navigation channel under the main span of the bridge. TZC will begin working in the main navigation channel, which will result in partial or total closure of same. Additional temporary navigational lights have been installed on the existing bridge 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 permit requirements, as are all moorings, barges and other equipment. All Mariners should consult the latest USCG Local Notice to Mariners before transiting this area.

More New NY Bridge boater safety information, including the U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners, construction site maps, can be found here at NewNYBridge.com. The page includes an interactive GPS map showing vessel locations on the Hudson River, detailing which vessels are stopped and which are in motion to a new location for recreational and commercial boaters to get current information on the very active construction zone. The vessel tracking map is for informational purposes and not intended for navigation.

All lane closures are subject to change due to traffic, weather or emergency situations. Please visithttp://www.thruway.ny.gov/travelers/map/ for real-time information regarding traffic conditions.

Tarrytown Toll Plaza Demolition Continues Cashless Tolling System Now In Effect

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

TARRYTOWN TOLL PLAZA DEMOLITION CONTINUES

May 5, 2016 by

update

For immediate release: May 5, 2016

TARRYTOWN TOLL PLAZA DEMOLITION CONTINUES
Cashless Tolling System Now In Effect

Demolition of the deactivated toll plaza in Tarrytown continues as Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) removes the toll plaza structures on the four right-most lanes of the southbound New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) in preparation for the next shift in traffic, which is scheduled to occur in late May.

Survey work in the area will necessitate a midday lane closure, detailed in the chart below.

Lane Closures Near the Tappan Zee Bridge

DATE: CLOSURES BEGIN: CLOSURES END: LOCATION:
Tue., 5/10 10 a.m. – One right lane 3 p.m. Southbound Thruway
near the former toll plaza

Noise Barrier Construction
TZC will continue constructing noise barriers along the Thruway in South Nyack next week. The work includes constructing noise barrier foundations and excavating soil along the southbound Thruway between the South Broadway bridge and River Road. After the foundations are established, concrete panels that form the noise barriers will be installed. The barriers will be treated with sound-absorbing material to further reduce traffic noise to the nearby community.

TZC also will continue constructing foundation walls for the future highway and shared-use path along the northbound Thruway in South Nyack. The operation is scheduled to continue in the coming months.

Additional work includes:

  • Main span tower construction
  • Support for river-based work from the Rockland trestle
  • Rockland landing retaining walls
  • Survey inspections on the existing bridge
  • Westchester landings utility work
  • Girder assembly placement
  • Bridge road deck installation
  • Drainage structure installations

Boater Safety
Marine units are continuing patrols to monitor the construction zone and encourage all boaters to obey the established U.S. Coast Guard safety protocols.

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.

Mariners also should be aware that TZC will continue work in the vicinity of the side channels under the existing bridge. TZC will also be working in the area left and right of the main navigation channel under the main span of the bridge. TZC will begin working in the main navigation channel, which will result in partial or total closure of same. Additional temporary navigational lights have been installed on the existing bridge 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 permit requirements, as are all moorings, barges and other equipment. All Mariners should consult the latest USCG Local Notice to Mariners before transiting this area.

More New NY Bridge boater safety information, including the U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners, construction site maps, can be found here at NewNYBridge.com. The page includes an interactive GPS map showing vessel locations on the Hudson River, detailing which vessels are stopped and which are in motion to a new location for recreational and commercial boaters to get current information on the very active construction zone. The vessel tracking map is for informational purposes and not intended for navigation.

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.

 

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

May 2016 New NY Bridge Project Monthly Newsletter

April 28, 2016 by
May 2016
New NY Bridge Project Monthly Newsletter
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Name That Bird!:
New Tappan Zee Falcon Hatchling Debuted on April 10
The pair of peregrine falcons that live in a man-made nest box on the existing Tappan Zee Bridge became proud parents once again with the hatching of a nestling on April 10.
The New NY Bridge project team is inviting members of the public to help name the new falcon chick.
A week-long naming contest is now underway on the project’s Falcon Cam webpage. Rockland and Westchester students came up with the names.

Life in the Fast Lane:

On Sunday April 24, travelers on the Tappan Zee Bridge said goodbye to the lines at the Tarrytown toll plaza thanks to cashless tolling. The state-of-the-art technology created a new traffic pattern in the area, eliminating the need for toll booths and speeding commutes across the river.

Across the Zee:

Rows of towering piers stand in procession across the Hudson River as the New NY Bridge project steadily moves ahead.

Pier to Pier:

Years of hard work and careful planning on the New NY Bridge project are paying off as Tappan Zee Constructors recorded several construction milestones.

Steely Progress:

Workers on the New NY Bridge project are making swift progress installing steel girders thanks, in part, to recent good weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
What is Cashless Tolling?    
A:
The new cashless tolling system allows motorists to pay their toll while maintaining highway speeds on the Tappan Zee Bridge. The system collects tolls via E-ZPass and Tolls by Mail, detecting classes of vehicles and applying the correct charge.
If you have E-ZPass, your toll is collected using the same process that you are already familiar with. If you don’t have E-ZPass, cameras photograph your vehicle’s license plate as it passes under the overhead equipment. A bill is then automatically sent to the registered owner by U.S. Mail.
Get Your E-ZPass ® 

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 New NY Bridge Community Outreach Centers
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New NY Bridge Magazine
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Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

NEW NY BRIDGE APRIL 2016 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

March 29, 2016 by
April 2016
New NY Bridge Project Monthly Newsletter
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Tower Crossbeam Slideshow:
Final Crossbeam Installed on the Main Span
The new bridge moved another giant step forward this month as Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) installed the fourth and final concrete crossbeam on the main span. In addition to supporting the future road deck, the massive precast beams will reinforce the outward-angled towers as they grow to their ultimate 419-foot height.

Open Houses Held on Shared-Use Path Parking & Connections:

Rockland and Westchester residents voiced their opinions at a pair of public meetings this March as the New NY Bridge team presented detailed information regarding the proposed alternatives for the Shared-Use Path (SUP) parking facilities and connections in the villages of South Nyack and Tarrytown.

Standing Down for Safety:

Living up to its safety motto, “Take Zero Chances,” Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) recently held safety meetings with every member of its New NY Bridge project crew.

Supporting STEM:

Since the start of construction of the New NY Bridge in 2013, the project’s outreach team has partnered with local schools to engage nearly 40,000 students. The team’s presentations highlight the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics-collectively known as the STEM fields-to the design and construction of the twin-span bridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
What is Cashless Tolling, and when will it take effect on the Tappan Zee Bridge?    
A:
Beginning on April 23, 2016, the new cashless tolling system will allow motorists to pay their toll while maintaining highway speeds on the Tappan Zee Bridge. The system will collect tolls via E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail, detecting classes of vehicles and applying the correct charge.
If you have E-ZPass, your toll is collected using the same process that you are already familiar with. If you don’t have E-ZPass, cameras photograph your vehicle’s license plate as it passes under the overheard equipment. A bill is then automatically sent to the registered owner by U.S. Mail.
Get Your E-ZPass ® 

“On-the-Go”at the

 New NY Bridge Community Outreach Centers
View the latest issues of the
New NY Bridge Magazine
Visit NewNYBridge.com to subscribe for periodic email updates
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Follow Us on Twitter
and Instagram 
Call the Project Hotline
1-855-TZBRIDGE
(1-855-892-7434)
Westchester: 2 N. Broadway, Tarrytown, NY
Rockland: 142 Main Street, Nyack, NY
Mon-Fri: 11am-7pm | Sat-Sun: 11am-4pm

Visit the Project Website
Email Us
Scenic Hudson RiverWalk Park, Tarrytown, NY
Memorial Park, Nyack, NY
©2016 New York State Thruway Authority
Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

The New NY Bridge Project Monthly Newsletter_March

March 17, 2016 by
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March 2016
New NY Bridge Project Monthly Newsletter
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Public Hearings Announced:
Comments Welcome on Shared-Use Path Parking and Connections
Residents and other interested stakeholders are invited to attend Public Hearings to comment on the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Shared-Use Path Parking Facilities and Bicycle/Pedestrian Connections in the Villages of South Nyack and Tarrytown.

Maintaining the Future:

The New NY Bridge project has begun clearing the way for the construction of a state-of-the-art building that will be used for maintenance of the new three-mile crossing, which will carry billions of vehicles over the Hudson River during the next century.

Building Bridges:

This winter, volunteers from Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) are lending their time and talent to Habitat for Humanity of Westchester’s latest endeavor: top-to-bottom renovations of homes for Iraq War veterans and their families.

A Towering Milestone:

After months of steady progress on the main span towers, Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) has begun installing enormous concrete crossbeams between the iconic towers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
Will the bridge look exactly like the artist’s rendering that have been made public?   
A:
Yes, overall the general design of the bridge will look similar to the artist rendering but it is subject to refinement as part of the design-build process. A Visual Quality Panel has been established to gather and consider public input and make recommendations on such characteristics as surface finishes, colors, lighting design, landscaping, and the shared-use bike and pedestrian path.
Get Your E-ZPass® “On-the-Go”at the New NY Bridge Community Outreach Centers
View the latest issues of the
New NY Bridge Quarterly Magazine
Visit NewNYBridge.com to subscribe for periodic email updates
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Follow Us on Twitter
Call the Project Hotline
1-855-TZBRIDGE
(1-855-892-7434)
Westchester: 2 N. Broadway, Tarrytown, NY
Rockland: 142 Main Street, Nyack, NY
Mon-Fri: 11am-7pm | Sat-Sun: 11am-4pm

Visit the Project Website
Email Us
Scenic Hudson RiverWalk Park, Tarrytown, NY
Memorial Park, Nyack, NY
©2016 New York State Thruway Authority
Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

MAIN SPAN TOWERS REACH NEW MILESTONE

February 4, 2016 by

update

PROJECT UPDATE

For immediate release: Feb. 4, 2016

MAIN SPAN TOWERS REACH NEW MILESTONE
Overnight Lane and Ramp Closures on Southbound Thruway (I-87/I-287)

Next week, Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) will begin the installation of four precast concrete crossbeams that will connect the new bridge’s main span towers and support its future road deck. The crossbeams were fabricated by Coastal Precast Systems in Chesapeake, Virginia, and barged to the project site last week. The precast materials will be set in place with the I Lift NY super crane, one of the few marine cranes in the world capable of the massive job.

Demolition of Thruway Maintenance Facility
TZC will begin demolition of the New York State Thruway Authority’s former maintenance offices in Tarrytown. Bridge maintenance teams currently operate from a temporary facility near exit 12 in West Nyack. The demolition will make way for a new maintenance facility and office building, which will begin construction this spring.

All-Electronic Toll Collection Gantry Work
Field testing of the project’s temporary all-electronic toll collection (AETC) system in Rockland will continue throughout the coming week near the exit 10 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W) and exit 11 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W) on-ramps to the southbound New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287).

The testing will necessitate closing the on-ramps during the overnights of Thursday, Feb. 4, through Friday, Feb. 12. Drivers will be directed to use the exit 12 (West Nyack – NY Route 303 – Palisades Center Drive) on-ramp from Route 303 in West Nyack, as shown in the graphic below. Signs will be posted to advise motorists of the detour route.

In addition, the work will require overnight closures of up to three lanes of the southbound Thruway throughout the remainder of this week and during the coming week. Specific lane and ramp closure times are detailed in the chart below.

The AETC system is expected to be activated this spring.

 

 

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

The New NY Bridge Newsletter for December

December 4, 2015 by

   The New NY Bridge Newsletter for December
The Steady March of Progress:
Aerial Photos Capture Latest Project Advances
As the installation of road deck panels continues into the fall and steel-blue girders extend even further out over the Hudson River, the New NY Bridge continues its steady march towards completion. Another sign of progress: the increasingly noticeable height of the main span towers, which are growing closer to their ultimate height of 419 feet.
Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Tappan Zee Bridge Project Update

December 4, 2015 by

update

For immediate release: Dec. 3, 2015

INSTALLATION OF CONCRETE ROAD DECK CONTINUES
Overnight Closure of Southbound Exit 10 On-Ramp on Monday, Dec. 7

Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) will begin installing bridge road deck segments near the Rockland shoreline on Thursday, Dec. 10. Project cranes will lift the prefabricated deck panels into place atop previously-installed structural steel girders.

Safely accomplishing the work will require reducing River Road/Piermont Avenue to one lane during weekdays starting on Thursday of next week. Flag persons will keep traffic moving by alternating the directional flow between north and south. TZC will also periodically hold traffic on River Road/Piermont Avenue for 6-minute intervals through Friday, Dec. 18 to enable the safe movement of deck panels and other materials.

Nearly 6,000 high-strength concrete deck panels will be installed for the new crossing’s approach spans. The panels are prefabricated at an off-site location and barged down river from the project’s Port of Coeymans facility in Albany County. TZC will continue installing the approach span deck sections across the river over the coming year.

All-Electronic Toll Collection Gantry Work
Construction of the project’s temporary all-electronic toll collection (AETC) system in Rockland will continue near the exit 10 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W) on-ramp to the southbound New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287). The work will necessitate closing the on-ramp during the overnight of Monday, Dec. 7. Drivers will be directed to use the on-ramp from Route 59 in Nyack, as shown in the graphic below. 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

DATE: CLOSURES BEGIN: CLOSURES END: LOCATION:
Thu., 12/3 8 p.m. – One left lane
9 p.m. – Two left lanes		 5 a.m., Fri., 12/4 Southbound I-87/I-287
from exit 11 to exit 10
Fri., 12/4 8 p.m. – One right lane
9 p.m. – Two right lanes		 5 a.m., Sat., 12/5 Southbound
from exit 11 to exit 10
Mon., 12/7 7 p.m. – One right lane
8 p.m. – Two right lanes		 5 a.m., Tue., 12/8 Southbound
from exit 12 to exit 10
Mon., 12/7 9 p.m. – Ramp closure 5 a.m., Tue., 12/8 Southbound
exit 10 on-ramp
Wed., 12/9 8 p.m. – One right lane
9 p.m. – Two right lanes		 5 a.m., Thu., 12/10 Southbound
from exit 12 to exit 10
Thu., 12/10 8 p.m. – One left lane
9 p.m. – Two left lanes		 5 a.m., Fri., 12/11 Southbound
from exit 12 to exit 10
Fri., 12/11 8 p.m. – One left lane
9 p.m. – Two left lanes		 5 a.m., Sat., 12/12 Southbound
from exit 12 to exit 10

Steel Girder Installation
Next week, TZC will continue installing structural steel girder assemblies from the new bridge’s Westchester landing in Tarrytown. The assemblies will connect the future westbound span’s 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 Line’s 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 Railroad, ensuring that the operation maximizes safety for both workers and the public and minimizes impacts to rail service.

The remaining work over the Metro-North tracks will occur during a Friday overnight later this month, with the entire operation anticipated to conclude by the end of the year. Metro-North has adjusted its schedule slightly to allow the work to be completed. TZC will suspend construction activities when commuter trains pass through the area, resuming when given the “all clear” instruction by Metro-North.

The I Lift NY super crane will continue placing larger girder assemblies across the 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.

Tower Construction
Construction will continue on the new bridge’s iconic towers, which will eventually rise 419 feet above the river. Innovative self-climbing jump forms enable TZC workers to build the towers in segments that progressively “jump” up from the foundations to their full height. Within the jump forms, workers assemble steel reinforcement cages that are then encased in concrete, one segment atop the previous one and so on. Eight towers will be constructed on the project’s football-field-long main span pile caps over the coming year, as seen in this animation.

Installation of Noise Barriers in South Nyack
Next week will see continued construction of foundations for noise barriers along the southbound Thruway between the South Broadway bridge and River Road. The construction work involves drilling holes into the soil to install the foundations. After the foundations are installed, concrete panels that form the noise barriers will be installed. The barriers will be treated with sound-absorbing material to further reduce traffic noise to the nearby community.

Additional work includes:

  • Support for river-based work from the Rockland trestle
  • Rockland landing retaining walls
  • Survey inspections on the existing bridge
  • Westchester landings utility work

Boater Safety
Marine Units are continuing patrols to monitor the construction zone and encourage all boaters to obey the established U.S. Coast Guard safety protocols.

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, construction site maps, can be found here at NewNYBridge.com. The page includes an interactive GPS map showing vessel locations on the Hudson River, detailing which vessels are stopped and which are in motion to a new location for recreational and commercial boaters to get current information on the very active construction zone. The vessel 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.

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

The New NY Bridge Newsletter October 2015

September 29, 2015 by
October 2015
New NY Bridge Project Monthly Newsletter
Forward   |    Home   |    Archives 
Towers Taking Center Stage:
Construction Begins on New Bridge’s Iconic Main Span Towers
Building on remarkable construction achievements so far, Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) is now beginning work on the new bridge’s striking main span towers. Utilizing self-climbing jump forms, TZC will construct the 419-foot towers in continuously-rising segments throughout the coming year.

Bridge Builders of Tomorrow:

In addition to employing more than 3,000 people to date, the nation’s largest bridge and highway project is enlisting the talents of the next generation of engineers, designers and builders. Through ongoing college internship programs, both the New York State Thruway Authority and Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC are engaging bright young minds to learn from, and contribute to, the New NY Bridge project.

[Video] Building Information Modeling:

Bridge builders are using 3D technology to create the New NY Bridge in a virtual world. By utilizing state-of-the-art building information modeling (BIM), designers can handle an astonishing amount of information with the utmost efficiency.

New NY Bridge Hallmarks: Teamwork and Innovation:

The New NY Bridge project educational outreach initiative recently kicked off its third year with a focus on the teamwork and innovation required to build the nation’s largest bridge and highway project. As in previous years, the outreach team will engage students throughout the Hudson Valley and beyond, visiting classrooms and hosting outdoor lectures at the project’s construction viewing platforms in Rockland and Westchester counties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
Will the bridge look exactly like the artist’s renderings that have been made public? 
A:
The design of the bridge is subject to refinement as part of the design-build process. A Visual Quality Panel has been established to gather and consider public input and make recommendations on such characteristics as surface finishes, colors, lighting design, landscaping, and the shared-use bike and pedestrian path.
Get Your E-ZPass® “On-the-Go”at the New NY Bridge Community Outreach Centers
View the latest issues of the New NY Bridge Quarterly Magazine
Visit NewNYBridge.com to subscribe for periodic email updates
Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

New NY Bridge Project August 2015 Monthly Newsletter

August 4, 2015 by

An Aerial Tour:

Photos From Above Show Major Progress

The incredible progress on the New NY Bridge project is becoming more and more visible every day. Residents are literally seeing engineering history in the making. As part of their design-build contract with the New York State Thruway Authority, Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) is documenting the construction using both still photography and video. TZC regularly uses a helicopter to get a bird’s eye view of the worksite and you can now see the new twin-span bridge rising out of the Hudson River in this slideshow.

READ MORE

Fast Tolls on the Horizon:

As travelers approach the Tappan Zee Bridge from Rockland County, they will soon get a glimpse of the future: An overhead gantry and related equipment is being installed at exit 10 on the southbound New York State Thruway in South Nyack for a temporary all-electronic toll collection (AETC) facility. Following a series of tests this fall, the system will be activated in spring 2016, enabling motorists to pay their toll while maintaining highway speeds. Like the Model-T and the 8-track tape player, the inconvenience of stopping or slowing down to pay a toll soon will be a thing of the past.

 

READ MORE

Galvanizing Strength:

Over 60 million pounds of steel bars will fortify the new bridge, more than three times as much steel as is in the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris. Each of the reinforcing steel bars, called rebar, is treated through a process called “hot-dip galvanization” that provides additional protection against rusting.

 

 READ MORE

Beating the Heat:

By the sweat of their brow, construction workers have made impressive progress on the New NY Bridge project. But with near triple digit temperatures increasingly becoming the norm, keeping more than 1,000 workers on the Hudson River at any given time hydrated is of paramount importance.

 

READ MORE
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
What will happen to the current bridge? 
A:
The current Tappan Zee Bridge will be carefully dismantled, and the structural steel will be recycled. The concrete deck panels, which have been replaced in recent years, will be reused where possible on other Thruway and state Department of Transportation projects.
Get Your E-ZPass® “On-the-Go”at the New NY Bridge Community Outreach Centers
View the latest issues of the New NY Bridge Quarterly Magazine
Visit NewNYBridge.com to subscribe for periodic email updates
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
 Follow Us on Twitter

@NewNYBridge
Call the Project Hotline

1-855-TZBRIDGE

(1-855-892-7434)

 Community Outreach Centers

Westchester: 2 N. Broadway, Tarrytown, NY

Rockland: 142 Main Street, Nyack, NY

Mon-Fri: 11am-7pm | Sat-Sun: 11am-4pm
Visit the Project Website
Email Us
Construction Viewing Platform

Scenic Hudson RiverWalk Park, Tarrytown, NY

Next to the Tarrytown Senior Center at
240 West Main St.
©2015 New York State Thruway Authority
Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The New NY Bridge July Newsletter

July 2, 2015 by
July 2015
New NY Bridge Project Monthly Newsletter
Forward   |    Home   |    Archives 

Heavy Metal:

Bridge Starts Taking Shape with Installation of First Section of Structural Steel

Following months of careful planning and with the use of the project’s king of cranes, the New NY Bridge team installed the span’s first section of structural steel on June 17: a 410-foot segment of welded girders that will support the road deck.

READ MORE

Celebrate-and Navigate-Safely:

With the 2015 recreational boating season hitting full stride this weekend as boaters celebrate Independence Day on the water, the New NY Bridge project team and local law enforcement officials remain committed to helping all boaters navigate safely near the work area. Boaters are reminded to be extra vigilant around commercial vessels and the construction zone, especially the no-wake low-speed zone at the Tappan Zee Bridge.

 

READ MORE

Restoring the Reefs:

Oyster reefs were once a predominant feature of the Hudson River, supporting vast and diverse communities of aquatic life. But past decades of pollution and overharvesting led to a decline in oyster populations in the area to near-extinction. In recent years, however, there have been promising signs of recovery.

 

 READ MORE

Third Concrete Batch Plant Arrives:

The addition of a third floating concrete batch plant this week enables the New NY Bridge project to shift into an even higher gear. Capable of delivering 180 cubic yards of concrete per hour – more than twice as much as the initial two batch plants combined – the new mixing platform will supply concrete for the new bridge’s remaining foundations and piers as well as its 419-foot towers, which will begin later this summer.

 

READ MORE

[Video] Setting Sail:
First Steel Girders Arrive By Barge

After a stunningly beautiful trip down the Hudson River, the first 12′ tall, 400′ long section of structural steel arrived at the New NY Bridge construction site on Thursday June 10, 2015. The girder sections, weighing up to 1,100 tons are assembled at the Port of Coeymans in Albany County and then barged to the project site. The trip can take from 12 to 20 hours depending on weather, tides and other conditions. The individual steel girders, totaling 31 miles in length before assembly, are all made in the USA and will support the road deck of the new twin span bridge. The girders will be set in place by the I Lift NY crane in the coming days.

 

 READ MORE
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
How can my company apply for subcontracting work on the project?
A:
Businesses interested in obtaining contracts for the New NY Bridge project should reach out to Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC through the TZC website, TappanZeeConstructors.com.
Get Your E-ZPass® “On-the-Go”at the New NY Bridge Community Outreach Centers
View the latest issues of the New NY Bridge Quarterly Magazine
Visit NewNYBridge.com to subscribe for periodic email updates
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
 Follow Us on Twitter

@NewNYBridge
Call the Project Hotline

1-855-TZBRIDGE

(1-855-892-7434)

 Community Outreach Centers

Westchester: 2 N. Broadway, Tarrytown, NY

Rockland: 142 Main Street, Nyack, NY

Mon-Fri: 11am-7pm | Sat-Sun: 11am-4pm
Visit the Project Website
Email Us
Construction Viewing Platform

Scenic Hudson RiverWalk Park, Tarrytown, NY

Next to the Tarrytown Senior Center at
240 West Main St.
©2015 New York State Thruway Authority
Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Holiday Traffic Update

July 2, 2015 by

update

For immediate release: July 1, 2015

NO LANE CLOSURES SCHEDULED ON NEW NY BRIDGE PROJECT OVER INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND

Multiple Lane Closures During the Overnights of the Week of July 6

In observance of the Independence Day holiday, Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) will suspend most construction activities over the Fourth of July weekend. Security and limited maintenance operations will continue throughout the project site. In accordance with New York State’s Drivers First initiative, no construction related lane closures are scheduled on or near the New NY Bridge project site from Thursday morning, July 2 to Monday night, July 6. Drivers First, launched in 2012, prioritizes the convenience of motorists to ensure that traffic disruptions are as minimal as possible for drivers at highway and bridge construction projects across the state.

Boater Safety With the 2015 boating season in full swing, the New NY Bridge project team urges all boaters to use caution on the Hudson River near the construction zone and to take advantage of the extensive safety-related information available on the project website including the 2015 New NY Bridge Boater Safety Guide.

Enhanced marine law enforcement patrols are in effect for the Independence Day holiday weekend. The U.S. Coast Guard, Westchester and Rockland County marine units will be patrolling the area urging all boaters to use caution and follow all safety regulations.

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.

Following the Holiday, Multiple-Lane Closures and Periodic Traffic Stops During the Overnights of Monday, July 6 through Friday, July 10 During the overnight of Monday, July 6, lane restriping operations will require triple-lane closures of the northbound New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) from exit 9 (Tarrytown – Sleepy Hollow – US Route 9) to exit 11 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W). Specific lane closure times are listed in the chart below.

At least one lane will remain open at all times, except during periodic traffic stops lasting up to 10 minutes of all four lanes of the northbound Thruway near exit 11 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W). To ensure the public’s safety, the New York State Police will stop and hold all traffic approaching the area immediately before the traffic stops go into effect. Motorists will be permitted to enter the Thruway from all ramps during the traffic stops.

Additionally the exit 10 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W) off-ramp from the northbound Thruway will also be closed during the overnight of Monday, July 6. Drivers will be directed to use exit 11 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W) as shown below:

During the overnight of Tuesday, July 7, construction operations will require overnight double-lane closures of the northbound Thruway from exit 9 (Tarrytown – Sleepy Hollow – US Route 9) to exit 11 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W). Specific lane closure times are listed in the chart below.

At least one lane will remain open at all times, except during periodic traffic stops lasting up to 10 minutes of all four lanes of the northbound Thruway near exit 11 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W.

During the overnights of Wednesday, July 8 through Friday, July 10, construction operations will require triple-lane closures of the southbound Thruway in the area of exit 10 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W). Specific lane closure times are listed in the chart below.

Additionally the exit 10 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W) on-ramp to the southbound Thruway will be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. during the overnights of Tuesday, July 7 and Wednesday, July 8. Drivers will be directed to use the on-ramp from Route 59 in Nyack, as shown in the following graphic.

Lane closures throughout the coming week are scheduled as follows:

I-287/I-87 Lane and Ramp Closures near the Tappan Zee Bridge
Date: Closures Begin: Closures End: Location:
Mon, 7/6 8 p.m. – One left lane

9 p.m. – Two left lanes

11 p.m. – Three left lanes

 4:30 a.m., Tue, 7/7 Northbound,
from exit 9 to exit 11
Mon, 7/6 8 p.m. – Ramp closure 4:30 a.m., Tue, 7/7 Northbound,
exit 10 off-ramp
Tues, 7/7 8 p.m. – One left lane

9 p.m. – Two left lanes

 4:30 a.m., Wed, 7/8 Northbound,
from exit 9 to exit 11
Tue, 7/7 8 p.m. – Ramp closure 4:30 a.m., Wed, 7/8 Southbound,

exit 10 on-ramp
Wed, 7/8 8 p.m. – One left lane

9 p.m. – Two left lanes

11 p.m. – Three left lanes

 5 a.m., Thu, 7/9 Southbound,
from exit 10 to exit 11
Wed, 7/8 8 p.m. – Ramp Closure 4:30 a.m., Wed, 7/8 Southbound,

exit 10 on-ramp
Thu, 7/9 8 p.m. – One left lane

9 p.m. – Two left lanes

11 p.m. – Three left lanes

 5 a.m., Fri 7/10 Southbound,
from exit 10 to exit 11
Fri, 7/10 9 p.m. – One left lane

10 p.m. – Two left lanes

11 p.m. – Three left lanes

 6 a.m., Sat 7/11 Southbound,
from exit 10 to exit 11

All planned work is subject to postponement due to weather conditions.

Steel Girder Assemblies As piers are finalized in the coming weeks and months, steel girder assemblies for the approach span of the new bridge will continue being installed by the I Lift NY super crane.

Installation of Noise Barriers in South Nyack Next week will see continued installation of foundations for noise barriers along the southbound Thruway between the South Broadway bridge and River Road. The work will involve drilling holes into the soil to install the foundations. After the foundations are installed, concrete panels that form the noise barriers will be installed. The barriers will be treated with sound-absorbing material to further reduce traffic noise to the nearby community.

River Road in South Nyack River Road utility work will continue over the coming week. The work may require reducing River Road to one lane at times. TZC flag persons will direct traffic as needed and additional signage as well as other safety measures will be in place.

Foundation Work on the New Bridge Marine crews are continuing work on bridge foundations next week by placing reinforcing steel and concrete in the piles, main span pile caps and approach span pile caps. The high-strength concrete is made on site by the project’s floating batch plants. Teams also will erect formwork for the cast-in-place pier columns, which eventually will support the new bridge’s road deck.

Crews also will continue working on the bridge’s landings at the Rockland and Westchester shorelines. The abutments, comprised of steel and concrete, will serve as strong bases where the new crossing meets the landside roadway.

Additionally, TZC will continue concrete placement for bridge foundations near the South Nyack shoreline. The concrete for this work is being acquired from local concrete suppliers and is delivered by truck to the Rockland trestle located off the Thruway’s southbound access ramp. Trucks exit the trestle to the Thruway via the northbound access ramp. The access ramps are used only by construction vehicles, providing a safe route directly to the work site and reducing traffic impacts on local roads.

Additional work includes:

  • Girder installation
  • Pile cap foundation construction
  • Main span foundation construction
  • Landing abutment concrete work
  • Support for river-based work from the Rockland trestle
  • Survey inspections on the existing bridge
  • Westchester Landings utility work

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.

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

TZ Bridge Traffic Updates For the Week of June 15, 2015

June 15, 2015 by

update

For immediate release: June 12, 2015

CONSTRUCTION STARTING ON NOISE BARRIERS ALONG SOUTHBOUND NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY (I-87/I-287) IN SOUTH NYACK

After months of preparation, crews will begin installing foundations for noise barriers along the southbound New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) between the South Broadway bridge and River Road. The work will involve drilling holes into the soil to install the foundations. After the foundations are installed, concrete panels that form the noise barriers will be installed. The barriers will be treated with sound-absorbing material to further reduce traffic noise to the nearby community.

Continued Overnight Triple-Lane Closures of Southbound Thruway
Weekday overnight triple-lane closures of the southbound Thruway will occur from Monday night, June 15 through Saturday morning, June 20. Closures will start at 8 p.m. with the closing of one lane near exit 11 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W) to the Tappan Zee Bridge, followed by a second lane at 9 p.m. and a third at 11 p.m. All lanes will reopen by 6 a.m. the following weekday. The closures on Friday, June 19 will start with a single lane at 9 p.m., a second lane at 11 p.m. and a third at 11:59 p.m. All lanes will reopen by 8 a.m., Saturday, June 20.

Triple-lane closures of the southbound Thruway in the same area also are planned for the overnight of Saturday, June 13, with a single lane closing at 7 p.m., followed by a second lane at 11 p.m. and a third at 1 a.m., Sunday, June 14. All lanes will reopen by 11 a.m., Sunday, June 14.

All planned work is subject to postponement due to weather conditions.

Single-Lane Closures of Northbound Thruway During Morning Commuting Periods on June 18 and 19
Single-lane closures of the northbound Thruway will occur on Thursday, June 18 and Friday, June 19. The closures will start at 5 a.m. near the Tappan Zee Bridge to exit 11 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W). The lane will reopen by 2 p.m. both days.

River Road in South Nyack
River Road utility work will continue during the week of June 15. The work may require reducing River Road to one lane at times. TZC flag persons will direct traffic as needed and additional signage as well as other safety measures will be in place.

Foundation Work on the New Bridge
Marine crews are continuing work on bridge foundations next week by placing reinforcing steel and concrete in the piles, main span pile caps and approach span pile caps. The high-strength concrete is made on site by the project’s floating batch plants. Teams also will erect formwork for the cast-in-place pier columns, which eventually will support the new bridge’s road deck.

Crews also will continue working on the bridge’s landings at the Rockland and Westchester shorelines. The abutments, comprised of steel and concrete, will serve as strong bases where the new crossing meets the landside roadway.

Construction of pier 1 located near River Road in South Nyack will continue with the installation of sheet piles. The sheet piles support the surrounding soil while the foundation for the new bridge pier is constructed. Pile driving is restricted to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday and noon to 7 p.m., Saturday. TZC is implementing noise-reducing measures, including sound-absorptive temporary noise barriers, to protect nearby residents. The project’s environmental compliance team will be on site to monitor noise levels during the operation.

Additionally, TZC will continue concrete placement for bridge foundations near the South Nyack shoreline. The concrete for this work is being acquired from local concrete suppliers and is delivered by truck to the Rockland trestle located off the Thruway’s southbound access ramp. Trucks exit the trestle to the Thruway via the northbound access ramp. The access ramps are used only by construction vehicles, providing a safe route directly to the work site and reducing traffic impacts on local roads.

Additional work includes:

  • Pile cap foundation construction
  • Main span foundation construction
  • Landing abutment concrete work
  • Support for river-based work from the Rockland trestle
  • Survey inspections on the existing bridge
  • Westchester Landings utility work

Boater Safety
During the summer months, Westchester and Rockland Marine Units will add extra patrols to monitor the construction zone and encourage all boaters to obey the established U.S. Coast Guard safety protocols.

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.

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

TZ Bridge Traffic Update

May 29, 2015 by

update

EXIT 10 ON-RAMP TO SOUTHBOUND NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY (I-87/I-287) CLOSED TONIGHT, FRIDAY, MAY 29
Triple-Lane Closures, Periodic Traffic Stops of Southbound Thruway in South Nyack During Overnights the Week of June 1

The exit 10 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W) on-ramp to the southbound New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) will be closed from 9 p.m., Friday, May 29 to 5 a.m., Saturday, May 30. Drivers will be directed to use the on-ramp from Route 59 in Nyack, as shown in the following graphic. The closure will allow Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) to safely move equipment needed to place concrete slabs for a new temporary all-electronic toll collection system that will be employed until a permanent system is constructed in the location of the current toll plaza in Tarrytown.

Additionally, weekday overnight triple-lane closures of the southbound Thruway will occur from Monday night, June 1 through Saturday morning, June 6. Closures will start at 7 p.m. with the closing of one lane near exit 11 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W) to the Tappan Zee Bridge, followed by a second lane at 9 p.m. and a third at 10:30 p.m. All lanes will reopen by 6 a.m. the following weekday or 8 a.m. the following Saturday.

Additionally, a double-lane closure is planned for the overnight of Saturday, May 30, with a single lane closing at 7 p.m., followed by a second lane at 11 p.m. The lanes will reopen by 10 a.m., Sunday, May 31.

The lane closures are necessary to allow TZC to modify the highway for the temporary all-electronic toll collection system.

During the weekday and weekend overnight closures, at least one lane will remain open at all times, except during periodic traffic stops lasting up to 10 minutes of all four lanes of the southbound Thruway near exit 11 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W), which will occur between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. during the overnights of Thursday, June 4 and Friday, June 5. To ensure the public’s safety, the New York State Police will stop and hold all traffic approaching the area immediately before the traffic stops go into effect. Motorists will be permitted to enter the Thruway from all ramps during the traffic stops. The complete traffic stops are necessary to move equipment from the right shoulder to the left shoulder.

All planned work is subject to postponement due to weather conditions.

River Road in South Nyack
River Road utility work will continue during the week of June 1. The work may require reducing River Road to one lane at times. TZC flag persons will direct traffic as needed and additional signage as well as other safety measures will be in place.

Foundation Work on the New Bridge
Marine crews will continue working on the foundations for the new bridge next week by placing reinforcing steel and concrete in the piles, main span pile caps and approach span pile caps. The high-strength concrete is made on site by the project’s floating batch plants. Teams also will erect formwork for the cast-in-place pier columns, which eventually will support the new bridge’s road deck.

While the current phase of pile driving is anticipated to end soon, pile driving will continue next week. Pile driving is restricted to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday and noon to 7 p.m., Saturday.

Crews also will continue working on the bridge’s landings at the Rockland and Westchester shorelines. The abutments, comprised of steel and concrete, will serve as strong bases where the new crossing meets the landside roadway.

Construction of pier 1 located near River Road in South Nyack will continue with the installation of sheet piles. The sheet piles support the surrounding soil while the foundation for the new bridge pier is constructed. TZC is implementing noise-reducing measures, including sound-absorptive temporary noise barriers, to protect nearby residents. The project’s environmental compliance team will be on site to monitor noise levels during the operation.

Additionally, TZC will continue concrete placement for bridge foundations near the South Nyack shoreline. The concrete for this work is being acquired from local concrete suppliers and is delivered by truck to the Rockland trestle located off the Thruway’s southbound access ramp. Trucks exit the trestle to the Thruway via the northbound access ramp. The access ramps are used only by construction vehicles, providing a safe route directly to the work site and reducing traffic impacts on local roads.

Additional work includes:

  • Pile cap foundation construction
  • Main span foundation construction
  • Landing abutment concrete work
  • Support for river-based work from the Rockland trestle
  • Survey inspections on the existing bridge
  • Westchester Landings utility work

Boater Safety
During the summer months, Westchester and Rockland Marine Units will add extra overnight patrols to monitor the construction zone and encourage all boaters to obey the established U.S. Coast Guard safety protocols.

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.

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TAPPAN ZEE CONSTRUCTORS TAKES EXTENSIVE NOISE MITIGATION MEASURES

May 21, 2015 by

For immediate release: May 18, 2015

TAPPAN ZEE CONSTRUCTORS TAKES EXTENSIVE NOISE MITIGATION MEASURES FOR SHEET PILE DRIVING AT PIER 1 IN ROCKLAND COUNTY

For the past week, Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) has been installing and testing extensive noise mitigation measures in an effort to mitigate noise from vibratory sheet pile driving at Pier 1 off the Rockland shoreline. These efforts have successfully reduced the noise levels by more than 10 decibels. This work is expected to last 1-2 weeks with limited work hours and no sheet pile driving at Pier 1 on Saturdays, Sundays or Memorial Day Monday.

To minimize the effect on the local community, TZC will:

  • Limit the sheet pile driving at Pier 1 to the hours of 8AM-4PM Monday-Friday (none allowed on Saturday, Sunday or Memorial Day Monday)
  • Drive no longer than 30 minutes per hour
  • Use a noise shroud over the vibratory hammer
  • Erect a 40-ft wide x 30-ft tall temporary noise barrier between the work and South Nyack residents
  • Place noise barrier material over the previously driven sheets to reduce noise/vibration levels
  • Proactively reach out to the Village of South Nyack and local homeowners to inform them of the mitigation measures

Noise levels at sensitive receptors and nearby homes are expected to remain within the allowable levels listed in the New NY Bridge project’s Final Environmental Impact Statement as shown in the table below:

To view the New NY Bridge project environmental monitors that are updated every minute of every day go to www.NewNYBridge.com.

table

 

 

 

 

 

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

Help Name the Falcon Chicks!

May 21, 2015 by

For immediate release: May 20, 2015

CAST YOUR VOTES TO NAME THE TAPPAN ZEE FALCON CHICKS!
Voting Open Until 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 27

The New NY Bridge project invites you to vote in a week-long poll to name the recently-hatched Tappan Zee falcons—called eyases (“EYE-a-sez”)—that are nesting with their parents atop the existing bridge. The 10 suggested names are the product of the imaginations of Rockland and Westchester elementary school students.

The chicks, two females and one male, were recently tagged with identifying bands by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The bands, placed on the fledglings’ ankles, will allow the project team and DEC to identify them and track their health and migration habits.

The Name-the-Falcons poll will remain open until 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 27. Names that garner the most votes will be announced shortly thereafter and the schools that suggested the winning names will be recognized.

Watch this spring and summer as the chicks become flying adult falcons via the 24/7 FalconCam on our website NewNYBridge.com.

The Tappan Zee Bridge falcon nest box is maintained by the New York State Thruway Authority. The New NY Bridge will include a new peregrine falcon nest box high atop its towers.

Please note: The falcons are wild birds and their behaviors reflect what happens in nature. Some of their actions may be unpleasant to watch and it is possible that some of the fledglings may not survive into adulthood.

Learn more about the Tappan Zee falcons.

 

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

Annual Meeting May 14, 2015

May 8, 2015 by

201505554cc8772e022

Members of the New NY Bridge project team will preview upcoming construction activities, discuss the progress thus far, and unveil some new design features at this year’s annual meeting for Rockland County.

Also, there will be a Q&A session with the audience and project leaders from the New York State Thruway Authority and Tappan Zee Constructors.

The annual meeting will be moderated by Brian Conybeare, the project’s special advisor.

WHEN: 6:30-8PM May 14

WHERE: Nyack High School, 360 Christian Herald Road, Nyack.

The Westchester annual meeting is Tuesday at Washington Irving School in Tarrytown.

PHOTO: One of the largest approach span pile caps on the project is carefully placed onto a group of foundation piles by the I Lift NY super crane.

Photo Credit: New York State Thruway Authority.

http://patch.com/new-york/nyack/new-ny-bridge-project-2015-annual-meeting-thursday?utm_source=alert-breakingnews&utm_medium=email&utm_term=community%20corner&utm_campaign=alert

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The New NY Bridge April 2015 Newsletter

April 1, 2015 by
April 2015
New NY Bridge Project Monthly Newsletter
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Springing into Action:

Remobilizing on the Hudson River

As the Lower Hudson Valley thaws out from a particularly punishing winter, the hardworking men and women of the New NY Bridge project are remobilizing on the river.

READ MORE

A Solid Landing:

While frigid weather conditions have limited river work in recent weeks, Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) has been forging ahead with the parts of the bridge that anchor it to the land: the abutments. Located at each end of the crossing, the stout abutments will serve as solid foundations for the bridge and the land-side highway.

 

READ MORE

Girl Scouts Explore Engineering:

On Feb. 28, the New NY Bridge (NNYB) project educational outreach team met with Girl Scout troops from Greenburgh and Elmsford to promote careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

 

 READ MORE

Inside Cofferdams:

The construction of river crossings present an engineering challenge: how to build in the water?.

 

 READ MORE
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
Who is the Project Director, and what are his responsibilities?
A:
Peter Sanderson was hired by the Thruway Authority to serve as project director for the New NY Bridge. Sanderson leads a team of state employees, and private-sector design and construction experts, with the goal of completing the new bridge on budget and on time. Among his past accomplishments, Mr. Sanderson was the lead for the I-35 bridge replacement project in Minnesota in 2007. Under his guidance, the I-35 project, projected to take 14 months, was completed in just 11 months.

 
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View the latest issues of the New NY Bridge Quarterly Magazine
Visit NewNYBridge.com to subscribe for periodic email updates
Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

NEW NY BRIDGE BIKE/PEDESTRIAN PATH

January 23, 2015 by

More Community Input Wanted on Parking Facility Concepts  for Rockland and Westchester

bike path

Residents and other interested stakeholders are invited to provide comments on the new bridge’s shared-use bike/pedestrian path parking concepts.

Once complete, the New NY Bridge to replace the Tappan Zee will offer Hudson Valley residents a safer and easier commute, as well as a brand new 3.1-mile-long shared-use path for pedestrians and bicycles with stunning Hudson Valley views. The path will be perfect for a leisurely stroll, a challenging run or an exhilarating ride.

 

The project team has been working closely with residents, elected officials and experts for more than a year to develop the best design for visitor parking and other amenities. We completed a comprehensive study to determine the amount of parking needed, and an environmental assessment of the options is underway. Public meetings will be held to present the findings of the environmental assessment and take more comments from the public before any plans are finalized.

 

Now, we want your input on the parking options.

 

Please click here to view parking concepts. Comments will be accepted through Friday, February 13, 2015, and can be made via mail, email or fac (see instructions below). 

 

At the Westchester landing, the parking facility is planned on Thruway Authority property off South Broadway in Tarrytown. This site offers ample space for both parking and amenities.

 

For the Rockland landing, a variety of community-generated concepts are being studied to provide sufficient parking and amenities – including one on Thruway property at exit 10. At the Village of South Nyack’s request, the bike/pedestrian path’s entrance was moved from Smith Avenue to Cornelison Avenue at South Broadway. A $250,000 grant was awarded to the village through the New NY Bridge project’s Community Benefits Program to study the feasibility of redeveloping exit 10.

 

The parking facility concepts can be viewed at NewNYBridge.com/SUP and public comments can be submitted as follows:

 

Mail: Brian Conybeare
Special Advisor to the Governor for the New NY Bridge Project
303 South Broadway, Suite 413
Tarrytown, New York 10591

 

Email: Info@NewNYBridge.com  

 

Fax: 914.524.5455

 

Thank you in advance for your comments!

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

Tappan Zee Bridge Fall Quarterly Magazine

November 28, 2014 by

In this issue:

  • I Lift NY Super Crane: New York’s Monumental Lifter
  • Educational Outreach: Building Bridges to the Next Generation
  • Project Update: Foundations for the Future
  • The New NY Works: An Empire State Economic Engine

 

fall-quarterly-magazine Page 002

 

Read Complete Newsletter here:

http://www.newnybridge.com/documents/publications/2014/fall-quarterly-magazine.pdf

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New NY Bridge Project Monthly Newsletter_ November 2014

November 6, 2014 by
November 2014
New NY Bridge Project Monthly Newsletter
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Enter the Super Crane:

I Lift NY Arrives at the New NY Bridge Project 

 Following a 6,000 mile journey that included transit through the Panama Canal, the New NY Bridge project’s I Lift NY super crane arrived at the Hudson River construction site on October 6.

READ MORE

October 16, 2014 marked the first anniversary of permanent construction operations on the New NY Bridge project, and the past year has seen exceptional progress on the foundations of the new crossing. Looking ahead, the project is poised to make even greater and more visible strides in the coming year.

 

 READ MORE 
I Lift NY Completes Journey
I Lift NY Completes Journey
 

The I Lift NY super crane arrived at the New NY Bridge site on October 6. Here is a video of the powerful lifter completing the last leg of its 6,000-mile journey.

 

 READ MORE 

Led by the recently-arrived I Lift NY super crane, an armada of more than 30 floating cranes – each capable of raising immense structural elements with great precision – is hard at work lifting and placing many millions of pounds of components and materials to help build the New NY Bridge. These workhorse machines are critical to keeping the project on schedule for completion in 2018.

 

 READ MORE

Now in its second year, the New NY Bridge Educational Outreach Program continues to engage students of all ages in Westchester, Rockland and beyond. The program reflects Governor Andrew Cuomo’s goal of using the state’s largest infrastructure project to educate tomorrow’s professionals. This year, the team is focusing on the ‘how-it-works’ engineering behind the new bridge’s foundations.

 

 READ MORE 

Those keen on observing firsthand the progress of the New NY Bridge project are invited to the recently-opened Westchester viewing platform in Tarrytown’s Scenic Hudson RiverWalk Park. Located near the Tarrytown Senior Center at 240 West Main Street, the easy-to-access platform provides an unobstructed view of the project site.

 

READ MORE
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What will happen to the current bridge?
A: The current Tappan Zee Bridge will be carefully dismantled and the structural steel will be recycled. The concrete deck panels, which have been replaced in recent years, will be reused where possible on other Thruway and state Department of Transportation projects.

 

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=d87df910-023c-4eb5-b9f6-bcac7d294151&c=4897cfb0-a650-11e3-bc68-d4ae5292c426&ch=49f6ea80-a650-11e3-bcd8-d4ae5292c426

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Massive crane arrives at site of new Tappan Zee Bridge

October 7, 2014 by

TZ Under construction

By Judy Rife; Times Herald-Record

Posted Oct. 6, 2014 @ 7:33 pm

NYACK – One of the world’s largest floating cranes, in the wings in Jersey City since January, finally took center stage at the construction site of the new Tappan Zee Bridge on Monday. The crane, known as the I Lift NY, got the kind of gushing welcome that celebrities are accustomed to – including a declaration of love from Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

“I truly love this crane,’’ said Cuomo, surrounded by dozens of crane-ogling journalists and officials on a 149-passenger ferry off Piermont. “Every New Yorker should love this crane because it’s saving us a lot of money – as much as a billion dollars.”

The crane was a factor in the ability of Tappan Zee Constructors to win the $3.1 billion contract to design and build the new TZB, underbidding its two competitors by almost $1 billion in the process. Its superior lifting ability will allow much of the new bridge’s superstructure to be assembled off site and hoisted into place, slicing time and expense off the construction bill.

Darrell Waters, TZC’s president, said the crane will start work this week, and construction, concentrated in the river until now, will become more vertical and visible by the end of the year.

“We are 24 percent complete and we are on time and on budget,’’ said Waters, adding that 65 percent of the piles that will ultimately support the new bridge’s piers have been installed.

What surprised the welcoming party on the ferry was how ordinary the partially collapsed crane looked as it glided toward the TZB at four knots – despite sitting on a barge the size of a football field.

Its jaw-dropping size only became apparent when the ferry swung around it and the crane could be viewed against the bridge – and then it towered over the bridge and the 130 other pieces of construction equipment, including 31 cranes, in the water.

TZC will fill the barge with water and further collapse portions of the crane Tuesday in preparation for moving the I Lift NY beneath the bridge, 139 feet above the Hudson at low tide, Wednesday. Waters said he expects to have three feet of clearance.

As the ferry returned to Piermont, Cuomo was peppered with questions about what the tolls will be when the new bridge opens in 2018, a subject he has avoided in this election year.

The governor said that the state needs “a little more information” before it can speculate about the tolls. He pointed out incentives and penalties in the construction contract, as well as additional state or federal aid, could ultimately affect the project’s cost and the amount to be raised through tolls.

“It’s four years down the road,’’ he said.

judyrife@gmail.com

http://www.recordonline.com/article/20141006/NEWS/141009636/101008/NEWSLETTER100

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

CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ON THE NEW NY BRIDGE

August 2, 2014 by

update

Nighttime and overnight electrical work on the Tarrytown approach to the Tappan Zee Bridge will continue the week of August 4. The I-87 northbound/I-287 westbound right lane will be closed Monday, August 4 through Friday, August 8 from 9 p.m. each evening to 5 a.m. the following morning. The Thruway will remain open to traffic during these operations.

Construction will continue in the Hudson River as crews install foundations 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.

Sheet pile driving at locations on land and near the Rockland landing is temporarily on hold due to high noise levels from the operation. TZC will implement additional noise-reducing measures before resuming these operations. Sheet pile driving will commence once the measures are in place. All other construction activities not associated with driving the sheet piles will continue.

Work will also continue on the Rockland temporary work trestle near the county shoreline, including pile driving to install the temporary foundations needed to support the platform. The trestles will support cranes for the construction of the western-most 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 illuminated at night as are all moorings, barges and other equipment.

Lane Closures for New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287):

Monday Aug 4 Northbound, Right Lane near Exit 9 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday Aug 4 Northbound, Right Lane approaching the Tappan Zee Bridge 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Tuesday Aug 5 Northbound, Right Lane approaching the Tappan Zee Bridge 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Wednesday Aug 6 Northbound, Right Lane approaching the Tappan Zee Bridge 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Thursday Aug 7 Northbound, Right Lane approaching the Tappan Zee Bridge 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Friday Aug 8 Northbound, Right Lane approaching the Tappan Zee Bridge 9 p.m. to 5 a.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
Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , ,

NEW NY BRIDGE PROJECT MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

July 18, 2014 by

President Obama and Governor Cuomo

 Visit New NY Bridge Project Site

With the Tappan Zee Bridge and the New NY Bridge project site in the background, President Obama stood by the Hudson River to make a push for funding transportation infrastructure. The Highway Trust Fund is projected to be insolvent by the fall, and the President is calling on Congress to […]

READ MORE

07-08-2014

The New NY Bridge team is reaching out to New York firms, suppliers and subcontractors – particularly disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs) – to aid construction efforts. DBEs are defined by the U.S Department of Transportation as small businesses that are owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals such as women, minorities, veterans or disabled persons.

 

READ MORE

07-01-2014 
 

Road work along highways and ramps presents safety challenges to both motorists and construction crews. The New York State Thruway Authority keeps the public informed and up to date on the latest construction activities to help ensure the safety of motorists as well as Thruway and Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) workers.

 

READ MORE

06-17-2014 
 

Native to the Hudson River and once plentiful here, the shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon were identified as endangered species and fishing of them was halted in 1996. Since then, the sturgeon population has been growing steadily in the Hudson, one of the species’ most important habitats.…»

 

READ MORE
06-24-2014 
 

The New NY Bridge team is reducing the project’s impact to the environment through the use of construction platforms-known as trestles on either side of the Hudson River. The trestles, which extend 1,000 feet from each shoreline and run parallel to the existing bridge, enable heavy duty machinery to work over shallow water and reduce the […]…»

 

READ MORE

06-09-2014

The New NY Bridge project is now accepting submissions for its 2014 Bridge Art Show. The juried exhibit is an opportunity for local artists to showcase their interpretations of the new bridge design or the existing Tappan Zee Bridge.The project’s Visual Quality Panel – which includes Rockland and Westchester representatives involved in the arts, architecture, […]

 

READ MORE
People Behind the New NY Bridge

  

 

Minelly De Coo

Design Production Team Area Manager

Minelly De Coo is an area manager for the design production team, who coordinates efforts between the office and the field. As an environmental specialist, she analyzed sound data and worked with the project’s visual quality panel to help design the project’s noise barriers. Minelly is also involved in the environmental monitoring for the project, overseeing sound monitoring stations and directing crew members in the field. She is notified of any environmental concerns that may arise, and works to see that they are resolved in a timely manner. An invaluable member of the project team, Minelly is proud to see progress on the bridge as it rises out of the Hudson River.  
Frequently Asked Questions 

Q:
A:
The existing bridge has only seven lanes, some of which are narrower than the current standard width of 12 feet. The new bridge will have eight 12-foot-wide lanes. The wide shoulders of the new crossing will greatly reduce the impact of disabled vehicles and accidents, which can cause massive tie-ups on the existing bridge. The incline over the main span will not be as steep, allowing large trucks to maintain consistent speed and reduce engine and braking noise. There will also be gently banked curves to help smooth traffic flow and reduce accidents. The new bridge will also include all-electronic toll collection technology, which allows motorists to pay tolls without slowing down from highway speeds. Motorists without E-ZPass will be automatically billed by mail.
Get Your E-ZPass® “On-the-Go”at the 
View the latest issues of theNew NY Bridge Quarterly Magazine
Visit NewNYBridge.com to subscribe for periodic email updates

 

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

Tappan Zee project: State troopers set up shop in Rockland

July 5, 2014 by
LoHud; Khurram Saeed, ksaeed@lohud.com11:13 p.m. EDT July 4, 2014

The state police and the Thruway Authority have temporarily shifted their operations due to Tappan Zee Bridge construction. They will be in Rockland until 2018.

WEST NYACK – State troopers and Thruwa maintenance workers will call Rockland home for at least the next four years while the new Tappan Zee Bridge is being built.

State Police Troop T and the state Thruway Authority this week began relocating their operations from  Tarrytown to the former Journal News printing plant at 160 N. Route 303 in West Nyack. The building is near Interchange 12 on the Thruway, across the street from the Palisades Center mall.

Capt. Richard Mazzone, the zone commander, said they are 95 percent moved in.

“Everything that was in Tarrytown is coming over here,” Mazzone told The Journal News. “Obviously, we still have a lot of unpacking to do. But we’re up and running.”

The state police and Thruway facilities at 333 S. Broadway in Tarrytown will be demolished and the land used as a staging area during construction of the $3.9 billion bridge. Part of the property will later be included in the bridge’s alignment.

In 2018, the state police will move back to new barracks in Tarrytown, this time on the south side of the Thruway, near the current site of the Thruway Authority’s toll plaza building.

The authority’s maintenance operations will also return to Westchester, north of the new bridge. They are expected to share space with a parking lot and facilities that will serve users of the bridge’s  3-mile bicycle and pedestrian path that will connect to South Nyack.

The shift to the 42,000-square-foot warehouse had been anticipated for more than a year.

Tappan Zee Constructors, the team designing and building the new bridge, began work to renovate the facility in January. It is contractually obligated to relocate the two agencies and rebuild their facilities when construction is finished.

Back in February, The Journal News reported some of the changes the site would see including doubling on-site parking to 145 spaces from 73 and adding an 8-foot-high fence to serve as a buffer between Thruway parking lots and homes on North Greenbush Road.

Troopers will use the north part of the building and the parking lot toward Route 303. Mazzone said people should continue to call 911 during emergencies and Thruway dispatchers at 800-842-2233 for non-emergency situations.

The Thruway Authority will use the back of the building, and carry out maintenance, welding, rigging and electric work in existing shop space. About 30 Thruway maintenance workers are moving over from Tarrytown to West Nyack, a Tappan Zee project official said.

Tim Donovan, project manager for Hauser Brothers Inc., which owns the building, noted the warehouse had been vacant for years and said the company was excited the space would generate income until at least 2018.

“It’s nice to have it leased and leased for that amount of time,” Donovan said.

Twitter: @ksaeed1

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

Tappan Zee could be pathway to tourism in Rockland

July 3, 2014 by

Tourism experts say the new crossing and an enhanced bus system could lure tourists and their money to Rockland but officials need to start planning now.

Khurram Saeed, ksaeed@lohud.com11:25 a.m. EDT July 1, 2014

1402940492000-nnyb-rend-15

SOUTH NYACK – Most of the talk about the Tappan Zee Bridge project so far has been about construction, noise and how the state will pay for the crossing.

But on Monday, the conversation took a new direction: the bridge as a money generator.

“You’re in a good place here right now, particularly with some of the development at the Tappan Zee Bridge and what’s going to happen,” Mary Kay Vrba, tourism director for Dutchess County, told 50 people at “Destination Rockland: Blazing New Trails in Tourism” at Nyack College.

A group of marketing experts, business leaders and elected officials saw visions of cash registers being filled up by tourists walking or bicycling over the bridge’s dedicated path into Rockland County. A revitalized bus system slated to be ready when the $3.9 billion span opens in 2018 could bring more.

Rockland Legislative Chair Alden Wolfe organized the three-hour conference, stating that it marked the “launching point” for further discussion.

Vrba drew parallels between the upcoming Tappan Zee path and the Walkway Over the Hudson, a 1.2-mile-long pedestrian walkway connecting Highland and Poughkeepsie that draws 700,000 visitors a year. Rockland has most of the ingredients to became a destination with its access to the Hudson River, a bevy of hiking trails and parks, and quaint river villages filled with stores and restaurants.

Downtown Poughkeepsie, on the other hand, lacks popular tourist draws like art galleries, she said.

“They walk the bridge and they say, ‘What next?’ ” Vrba said. “So you’ve got the what next, I think, with Nyack and Piermont and a lot of the shops and everything. You’ve got a product that you can work with. I think you have some real opportunities.”

Officials have the luxury of time to take a look at their towns and villages, address their needs and invest in a tourism plan, she said.

South Nyack and Tappan Zee project officials are still struggling to figure out where people who want to use the path will park in the village. The project team is expected to hold a meeting soon with several concepts proposed by the community, Mayor Bonnie Christian said.

Asked how they addressed parking for the Walkway Over the Hudson, Vrba said the land on both sides was municipally owned and purchased by the state parks department so they could be converted into paid lots. They also had the benefit in Poughkeepsie of parking garages six blocks away.

Veronica Vanterpool, executive director of Tri-State Transportation Campaign and a member of the task force that recently came up with transit recommendations for the bridge, said it was seeking a “transformation” of the existing Tappan ZEExpress service to entice more riders. There would be modern buses, traveling more frequently, utilizing technology like off-board fare collection, but some have said the plan didn’t work.

The system, known as bus rapid transit, is still in the conceptual stage. There are no cost estimates, and only $20 million in state seed money to date.

Twitter: @ksaeed1

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

Tappan Zee: Artists prepare for Bridge Art Show

June 24, 2014 by

LoHud By Theresa Juva-BrownTjuva@lohud.com11:07 p.m. EDT June 23, 2014

For Kenneth Burns, the Tappan Zee Bridge is a crossing between his bustling city past and his quieter suburban life.

“I love my life up here,” he said. “The bridge gave me that.” After working and living in New York City for decades, the 70-year-old is now retired in New City, where he has spent the past eight years developing himself as a painter. He dabbles in watercolor and acrylics. “I mainly do landscapes, abstract landscapes,” he said. “I’m not ever going to make money out of it — it’s just a joy. It’s fun.”

The 2014 Bridge Art Show

Burns is working on a Tappan Zee painting to submit to the 2014 Bridge Art Show, sponsored by the Tappan Zee project team, along with ArtsWestchester, Rockland Center for the Arts, Rivertown Artists Workshop and Nyack Art Collective.The show, which is accepting entries from the public, has already drawn six submissions since it was announced earlier this month, officials say. “You will recognize the bridge, but it will be kind of a cloudy situation,” Burns said of his piece. “Moody is the the proper word. Not much color involved.” Photographers, painters and sculptors have until July 31 to submit their interpretations of the old and new Tappan Zee.

The project’s visual quality panel will select one winner and two runners-up. All the pieces will be displayed at the project’s community centers in Nyack and Tarrytown. For more show guidelines, see newnybridge.com. Mary Louise Allen, Burns’ wife, said she is excited about the exhibit. “I would love to see what my husband comes up with and see how he stacks up against the other local artists,” she said. “It will help him in his pursuit as an artist. He is always inspired by seeing the work of other artists.”

 

Read Complete article on line here: http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/tappan-zee-bridge/2014/06/23/tappan-zee-artists-prepare-bridge-art-show/11108353/

 

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

CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF 6/23

June 23, 2014 by

update

CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ON THE NEW NY BRIDGE

Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) will continue work on the Rockland County landing of the new bridge.  The work will last several weeks and includes the installation of sheet piles, some measuring over 50 feet long.  These interlocking steel sheets will support the existing roadway during the excavation and construction process.  A large crane with a vibratory pile hammer will install the sheets, and be positioned behind a temporary concrete barrier in South Nyack.

In Westchester County, crews will conduct directional boring for future utility relocations under I-87/I-287 west of the toll plazas from 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. the week of June 23.  The overnight operation requires the closing of various toll lanes.  Different tolls lanes will be affected as the work progresses.  The Thruway will remain open at all times.

Construction of the New NY Bridge will continue with 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 operations associated with permanent foundations.

Work will also continue on the Rockland temporary work trestle near the county shorelines, including pile driving to install the temporary foundations needed to support the platform. The trestles will support cranes for the construction of the western-most section of the new bridge.

Lane Closures for New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287):

Monday June 23 Northbound, Right Lane near Exit 10 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday June 23 Southbound, Toll Plaza Lanes 6-7-8 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
Tuesday June 24 Northbound, Right Lane near Exit 10 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tuesday June 24 Southbound, Toll Plaza Lanes 6-7-8 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
Wednesday June 25 Northbound, Right Lane near Exit 10 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesday June 25 Southbound, Toll Plaza Lanes 8-9-10 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
Thursday June 26 Northbound, Right Lane near Exit 10 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Thursday June 26 Southbound, Toll Plaza Lanes 8-9-10 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
Friday June 27 Northbound, Right Lane near Exit 10 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Mariners should be aware that TZC will continue installing permanent piles 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. Both temporary and permanent piles are illuminated at night. An interactive map showing vessel locations on the Hudson River is now available on the project website, NewNYBridge.com, 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.  More New NY Bridge boater safety information, including the U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners and construction site maps, can be found here.

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
  • Rockland Landing construction
  • Westchester Landing utility relocations
  • River Road utility work
  • Rockland trestle construction, including pile driving
  • Survey inspections on existing bridge
  • Support for river-based work from the Rockland shoreline
  • Armoring of Dredge channel
  • Relocation/Moving to the Temporary Joint Facility at exit 12
Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

State to loan $511M for new TZ Bridge

June 17, 2014 by

LoHud; Joseph Spector, TJN3:03 p.m. EDT June 16, 2014

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The state’s Environmental Facilities Corp. said today it will loan up to $511 million to the new Tappan Zee Bridge project, a move that will help with the financing of the $3.9 billion project.It’s the latest effort by the state to fund the bridge and limit toll increases when the new 3-mile span across the Hudson River is completed in 2018.“As we continue to see progress on the New NY Bridge, it is essential that actions are taken to protect wildlife and address the project’s environmental impacts – but in a way that doesn’t overburden taxpayers and drivers,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement obtained by Gannett.

The loan, which is financed through federal aid, will be used for environmental protection and Hudson River restoration projects related to the bridge’s construction. The projects include protecting water quality and marine life in the Hudson River estuary, including endangered sturgeon, oyster beds and other habitats.The loan comes through the EFC’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund. State officials said it won’t impact other projects.It’s the newest loan for the project. The largest loan, $1.6 billion, was announced last year by the federal Department of Transportation.

With the low-interest loans, state officials said it will help keep tolls down on the new bridge, which is being financed through the state Thruway Authority. The round-trip toll on the current bridge is $5, but there have been concerns that it could go as high as $14 on the new bridge.The Thruway Authority will need to approve the loan and is expected to start using it in August, state officials said.The Environmental Facilities Corp. is the financing arm for the state to provide low-interest loans to local governments and agencies for drinking water, wastewater infrastructure and other clean-water projects.Last year, EFC financed close to $2 billion in clean-water investments statewide, a news release from Cuomo’s office said.

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/politics/politics-on-the-hudson/2014/06/16/state-loan-511m-new-tz-bridge/10627953/

 

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

Pile work for Tappan Zee Bridge starting in South Nyack

June 11, 2014 by

Khurram Saeed, ksaeed@lohud.com

Sheet piles will be installed just off River Road to create a temporary support wall for the Rockland landing of the new bridge.

Work is starting later this week to install 60-foot-long flat sheet piles along the northbound Thruway near River Road. The work will last about three weeks and take place only during the day, said Carla Julian, spokeswoman for bridge builder Tappan Zee Constructors. The sheet piles, which are different from the round pipe piles being used in the Hudson, will create a temporary continuous wall that will support the Thruway during the excavation and construction for the Rockland landing of the new bridge, Julian said in an email.

About 45 to 50 sheets are needed to cover approximately 100 feet, and crews typically average three piles per day, Julian saidThe site formerly housed a state Thruway Authority maintenance building; it was demolished a few weeks ago. A 165-foot tall crane positioned just off River Road will install the piles into the ground using a vibratory hammer, an alternative to louder pile driving.

The interlocking sheets are installed in sequence. Julian said crews first install a 25-foot-high template, lift and swing a sheet into the template, position it and drive enough of the pile to stand in the template, drive additional sheets, move the template and drive the piles the remaining depth.”The actual pile driving is the fastest part of the process and is not done in one shot,” she said.Tappan Zee Constructors crews are expected to be on the site Wednesday to mobilize and plan to begin work on Thursday or Friday.The pile work will require the closure of the right lane on the northbound Thruway for some of the operation, Julian said.

The lane will be closed this week from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday. The project team has a video on YouTube providing an animated look at the construction of the new bridge’s main span foundation and towers.

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/tappan-zee-bridge/2014/06/10/pile-work-tappan-zee-bridge-starting-south-nyack/10280581/

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

Obama, at Tappan Zee Bridge, pushes transportation funding

May 15, 2014 by

The president will seek to rally support for more federal dollars for highway and bridge improvements.

TARRYTOWN – With the new Tappan Zee Bridge taking shape behind him, President Barack Obama on Wednesday urged Congress to inject billions of dollars in the nation’s transportation infrastructure to keep Americans working and encourage businesses to stay.

During his first visit to Westchester as president, Obama praised the progress on the new $3.9 billion crossing, which is replacing the 58-year-old crumbling structure.

“It carries a lot more traffic than when it was built back in 1955,” Obama said under sunny skies at Sunset Cove, a restaurant at the Washington Irving Boat Club. “At times, you can see the river through the cracks in the pavement. Now, I’m not an engineer, but I figure that’s not good.”

Highlights from President Obama’s speech on the country’s infrastructure at near the Tappan Zee Bridge in Tarrytown. (Video by Peter Carr/The Journal News)

He noted the new Tappan Zee will be the first new bridge in New York in 50 years and announced the federal government plans to apply the same “fast track” process to 11 other infrastructure projects, including Boston’s South Station and light rail around Seattle.

“Normally it would have taken three to five years to permit this bridge,” Obama said during his 10-minute speech. “We did it in a year and a half.”

With the Tappan Zee Bridge as a backdrop, President Barack Obama speaks from the Washington Irving Boat Club in Tarrytown May 14, 2014. The President spoke about the need for Congress to fund road and bridge improvements across the nation.

With the Tappan Zee Bridge as a backdrop, President Barack Obama speaks from the Washington Irving Boat Club in Tarrytown May 14, 2014. The President spoke about the need for Congress to fund road and bridge improvements across the nation.  (Photo: Seth Harrison/The Journal News)

He also called out congressional Republicans for blocking funding that would pay for modern highways, bridges and seaports.”We’ve got more than 100,000 bridges that are old enough to qualify for Medicare,” Obama said.Officials have warned that funding in the federal Highway Trust Fund is set to run out by the fall, which would put 112,000 active road and bridge projects and 5,600 transit projects at risk, along with nearly 700,000 jobs.”That’s like the population of Tampa and St. Louis combined,” the president said, citing the jobs figure.

“So far at least Republicans who run this Congress seem to have a different priority,” Obama said. “Rebuilding America — that shouldn’t be a partisan issue.”

Obama emphasized that “there is work to be done.”

“So the bottom line, Tarrytown, is America doesn’t stand still. … So I’m going to keep on fighting alongside all of you to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to rebuild America – not just rebuild one bridge, but I want us to rebuild every bridge. I don’t want us to just rebuild one school, I want us to rebuild every school that needs help.”

 His administration in late 2011 named replacing the Tappan Zee Bridge, which carries 138,000 vehicles a day, a top infrastructure priority. The process moved quickly from there, with environmental reviews fast-tracked and in 2013, the New York State Thruway Authority received a record $1.6 billion federal loan.

Under New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the state approved a process that allows infrastructure project to be designed while construction begins.

Cuomo, who introduced the president, has been praised for reviving the project, which had been stagnating for nearly a decade. It’s now in its second year of construction with completion projected for 2018.

With preparations in place for President Obama’s visit to the TZ Bridge construction site, minority construction workers protest about being shut out of major construction projects. (Video by Joe Larese/ The Journal News)

“We are the state of the bold. We are the state of the daring,” Cuomo said. “We are the state of performance. We are the state of skyscrapers, intricate transit systems. We are the state of public works that challenge the imagination.”

Also in attendance, seated to the back, was Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, the Republican who is planning to challenge Cuomo this fall. He criticized the governor before the speech for not discussing the cost of future tolls.

“The public has a right to know before the election,” Astorino said. “They know what it’s going to be. They promised last year we would have answers.”

Astorino accused the governor’s staff of refusing to allow him to sit in the front. Cuomo’s office, however, denied it meddled with the seating chart. An official who attended the speech said Astorino spent more than an hour talking with reporters and that by the time he tried to claim a seat, the choice ones were taken.

But all eyes were on the president who wore a crisp dark suit and dark blue tie against a background of construction equipment and steel piles. Obama joked and shook hands with many of the 250 people who were invited to attend, including elected officials, construction workers and residents.

Chris Junge of Tarrytown brought his two children, Tucker, 8, and Cassie, 6. The family walked from home to the event.

“It was exciting to be that close. It was personal,” Junge said. “It was a long day for them but I think they will remember it.”

Arriving at John F. Kennedy International, Obama flew aboard Marine One to Tarrytown. He traveled by motorcade the short distance to the marina. Less than 30 minutes after he arrived, Obama was back off to New York City to attend two Democratic party fundraisers in the evening.

Reporter Brian Tumulty contributed to this story.

Twitter: @ksaeed1

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/tappan-zee-bridge/2014/05/14/obamas-tappan-zee-bridge-speech-set-mid-afternoon/9080115/

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

Building a New Bridge Video!

March 26, 2014 by
Building a New Bridge!

Building a New Bridge!

 

Building a New Bridge

NY Times BY ROOPA VASUDEVAN AND STEPHEN FARRELLMarch 25th, 2014

This video graphic illustrates how a new cable-stayed bridge across the Hudson River north of New York City will replace the 60-year-old Tappan Zee Bridge between Rockland and Westchester Counties.

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

CREWS MOBILIZE FOLLOWING WINTER WEATHER SHUTDOWN; PILE DRIVING RESUMES ON NEW NY BRIDGE PROJECT

February 21, 2014 by

new

Project Update

For immediate release: February 21, 2014

Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) resumed marine operations and pile driving this week as icy conditions cleared in the Hudson River and crews could safely go back to work. Pile driving operations will continue next week and a second shift of workers will be onsite to resume welding on the piles that will become the permanent foundation for the New NY 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.

Beginning the week of Feb. 24, crews will conduct nighttime geotechnical investigations on the Westchester approach to the existing bridge, in the vicinity of the toll plaza. Lane closures to support these operations will be in place from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., as needed, to minimize disruptions to traffic. This geotechnical investigation will confirm the soil conditions and ultimately allow the team to further streamline the design of the Westchester landings.

Lane Closures for New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287):

Monday Feb. 24 Southbound, Right Lane Near Toll Plaza 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Tuesday Feb. 25 Southbound, Right Lane Near Toll Plaza 8  p.m. to 5 a.m.
Wednesday Feb. 26 Southbound, Right Lane Near Toll Plaza 8  p.m. to 5 a.m.
Thursday Feb. 27 Northbound, Right Lane Near Toll Plaza 8  p.m. to 5 a.m.
Friday Feb. 28 Northbound, Right Lane Near Toll Plaza 8  p.m. to 5 a.m.

Mariners should be aware that TZC will continue installing permanent piles in the vicinity of the side channels under the existing bridge, weather permitting. 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. 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:
• Permanent pile installation, including pile driving between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays, and occasionally between noon and 7 p.m. on Saturdays
• Rockland access ramp modifications
• 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
Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

WORK PROGRESSES ON RELOCATION OF NEW YORK STATE POLICE AND THRUWAY AUTHORITY TEMPORARY OPERATIONS FACILITIES

February 8, 2014 by

 

 

                                              update

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.
Lane Closures for New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287):

Monday Feb. 10 Northbound, Right Lane Near Exit 10 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tuesday Feb. 11 Southbound, Right Lane Near Exit 10 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesday Feb. 12 Southbound, Right Lane Near Exit 10 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Thursday Feb. 13 Northbound, Right Lane Near Exit 10 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Friday Feb. 14 Northbound, Right Lane Near Exit 10 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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
• 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

 

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

NYS Thruway Authority & The New NY Bridge Present January Newsletter

January 31, 2014 by
The New York State Thruway Authority and the New NY Bridge team are proud to present the January issue of the New NY Bridge Newsletter, a monthly publication designed to keep everyone abreast of the latest news about the project.In this issue:

  • I Lift NY Super Crane Completes 6,000-Mile Journey to New York
  • Mass Transit Task Force 2014 – Keeping an Eye on the Future
  • New NY Bridge Project Team Completes Winter Food Drive
  • TZC Holds Monthly Business Meeting to Connect with Small Businesses

http://www.newnybridge.com/documents/publications/2014/monthly-newsletter-jan.pdf

Photo: The New York State Thruway Authority and the New NY Bridge team are proud to present the January issue of the New NY Bridge Newsletter, a monthly publication designed to keep everyone abreast of the latest news about the project.</p> <p>In this issue:<br /> I Lift NY Super Crane Completes 6,000-Mile Journey to New York<br /> Mass Transit Task Force 2014 - Keeping an Eye on the Future<br /> New NY Bridge Project Team Completes Winter Food Drive<br /> TZC Holds Monthly Business Meeting to Connect with Small Businesses<br /> http://www.newnybridge.com/documents/publications/2014/monthly-newsletter-jan.pdf
Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , ,

Muscular West Coast Worker is on way to Build New Tappan Zee Bridge

January 28, 2014 by

NY Times January 27,2014 , Joseph Berger

Read complete NY Times article here:  http://nyti.ms/1jZ4Pm9

A 6,000 mile journey from San Francisco to NY; this might crane will rise to build the New NY Bridge!

TAPPANZEE4-articleLarge

 

Watch Time Lapse Video here: Passing thru the Panama Canal

tappanzee-videoSixteenByNine540

 

 

 

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

New NY Bridge Update January 03, 2014: NEW NY BRIDGE PROJECT SUSPENDS OPERATIONS TODAY, TOMORROW DUE TO WINTER STORM

January 3, 2014 by

For immediate release: January 03, 2014

NEW NY BRIDGE PROJECT SUSPENDS OPERATIONS TODAY, TOMORROW DUE TO WINTER STORM

Due to severe weather conditions, Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC), suspended scheduled project operations for today and tomorrow, but a small crew remains on site to continuously monitor conditions and respond immediately to any weather-related issues.

Normal operations are scheduled to resume Monday, as crews continue construction of the foundation of the New NY Bridge with the ongoing installation of permanent piles.

Subsurface utility investigations will take place in Tarrytown the week of Jan. 6. To facilitate this operation, the northbound right-hand lane of the New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) near the approach to the Tappan Zee Bridge in Tarrytown will be closed on Monday, Jan. 6 and Tuesday, Jan. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

>From Tuesday, Jan. 7, through Thursday, Jan. 9, 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. The same section of roadway will be closed on Friday, Jan. 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., to allow for work on the northbound maintenance ramp.

Mariners should be aware that Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (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

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

West Nyack buildings demolished to clear way for ‘Palisades Plaza’

November 27, 2013 by

LoHud By Akiko Matsuda November 27, 2013

http://m.lohud.com/RocklandNews/article?a=2013311260048&f=1168

Demolition work in West Nyack has made the way for a strip mall, to be known as Palisades Plaza.

Demolition work in West Nyack has made the way for a strip mall, to be known as Palisades Plaza. – Akiko Matsuda/The Journal News

WEST NYACK — A triangular lot with three buildings that was an eyesore for years will soon become a strip mall with a restaurant.

The 2.36-acre site is east of Route 303 and south of the New York State Thruway. The lot originally consisted of three separate properties: a single-story mixed-use office and light manufacturing building, a former state police barracks, and a former Texaco station.

Those buildings were all demolished recently. On Tuesday, heavy machinery was crushing chunks of concrete left behind.

The development is the latest sign of life to spring out of disused lots in the Tappan Zee Bridge corridor.

Developer Lawrence Adler of East Syracuse has gone before the Clarkstown Planning Board for his plans to build a 13,900-square-foot strip mall at the site, combining the three lots into one.

“Palisades Plaza” will include four retail stores and a restaurant with drive-thru service. Names of the future occupants are not mentioned in the application.

Adler and Ira Emanuel, an attorney representing the developer, did not return phone and email messages seeking comment.

Clarkstown Principal Town Planner Joe Simoes said the developer has taken all the necessary steps with regulatory jurisdictions.

At its meeting last month, the Clarkstown Planning Board granted final approval for the project, and the developer is in the process of getting Planning Board Chairwoman Shirley Thormann’s signoff.

The Tappan Zee Bridge replacement project has been stimulating the local real estate scene, as bridge builder Tappan Zee Constructors is leasing properties for temporary construction staging areas.

The former Journal News printing plant at 160 N. Route 303 — just north of the proposed Palisades Plaza — is slated to become a temporary home for state police and the New York state Thruway Authority.

Simoes said he didn’t believe the strip mall project was prompted by the bridge construction because the developer has been unsuccessfully trying to bring new businesses to the site for some time.

Because it’s an oddly shaped property that was partly zoned “residential,” it has been difficult to develop, Simoes said. Most recently, a mini-storage project was proposed, but the plan didn’t work out, he said.

The zoning issue has been resolved, making a way for the strip mall.

Simoes said the new development would be good for the community.

“It’s been such an eyesore for years that it’s an improvement,” he said.

Twitter: @LohudAkiko

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: , , , , , , ,

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: , , , , , , , , ,

TZ Construction to Begin On River Road, S Nyack

September 7, 2013 by

new

For immediate release: September 6, 2013

UTILITY WORK BEGINS ON RIVER ROAD

Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC will begin utility work on River Road in South Nyack the week of Sept. 9. This work will continue through November and will involve reducing the roadway to one lane during daytime hours. During off hours the road will have temporary coverings in place that may create uneven driving surfaces. Motorists and bicyclists should slow down and use caution in the area.

Construction of the Rockland County trestle will continue and include daytime pile driving to install the temporary foundation piles needed to support the platform. Pile driving will be limited to a maximum of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and, occasionally, from 12 noon to 7 p.m. on Saturdays. 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.

Impact pile driving will continue as part of the ongoing test pile program and will continue through October at various locations for future pile foundations during the same timeframe as above. The test pile program will verify subsurface conditions and test structural load capacities in preparation for construction of the new bridge’s permanent foundation.

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 on the project website, NewNYBridge.com, under the boating safety icon.

On Monday, Sept. 9, and Tuesday, Sept. 10, one southbound right hand lane and shoulder on I-87/I-287 between exit 11 and the Tappan Zee Bridge will be closed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for shoulder work. On Wednesday, Sept. 11, and Thursday, Sept. 12, one northbound right hand lane and shoulder on I-87/I-287 between exit 8 and exit 9 will be closed from 10 a.m. to 3p.m. for shoulder work.

Ongoing operations:
• Dredging operations will continue 24/7
• Test pile program
• Rockland bulkhead construction and Dock Extension at Rockland 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
• Mobilization at the exit 10 staging area
• Support for river-based work from the Rockland shoreline

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

ROCKLAND BULKHEAD CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN–TEST PILE PROGRAM CONTINUES

July 19, 2013 by

update

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE; JULY 19, 2013

Construction of the Rockland Bulkhead will begin next week as crews enlarge the work platform in the New York State Thruway Authority’s Rockland maintenance area located on River Road in South Nyack.

The bulkhead will be part of the Thruway’s permanent dock and serve as the access point for Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC’s (TZC) Rockland trestle.  The trestle is the support platform that will allow TZC to build the foundations for the new bridge near the Rockland shoreline without dredging in that area.  TZC will utilize the bulkhead for support of construction throughout the entire project.

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.

Test pile driving operations will be conducted over the next three months at proposed locations for pile foundations.  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 directions in 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 began at exit 10 in Rockland County and continue to move west into Westchester County and then back to Rockland for one final boring location.

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
– Extension of Thruway’s Rockland maintenance dock

Westchester:
Night time boring operations to investigate subsurface soil conditions will be conducted in the southbound shoulder of I-87/I-287and will require a temporary right lane closure between the existing bridge and exit 9 on Tuesday, July 23, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.  Northbound lane closures will be required from exit 9 to the existing bridge on Wednesday, July 24, and from exit 9 to exit 11 in Rockland County on Thursday, July 25, and Friday, July 26. 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 on Monday, July 22, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

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

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. 

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

HUDSON RIVER TEST BORINGS FOR THE NEW NY BRIDGE COMPLETED

June 8, 2013 by

update

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.

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

Tappan Zee Bridge: Webcams to stream construction

June 7, 2013 by

bilde

LoHud  By Khurram Saeed  June 7, 2013

The public will soon be able to watch the new Tappan Zee Bridge rise before their wired eyes.

Tappan Zee Constructors has hired EarthCam, a webcam technology company, to stream the five-year construction of one of the largest bridge projects in the nation. The images will be delivered in high definition over the Internet using multiple cameras.

“Everyone is interested in this project and it will help people better understand what we’re doing,” Tappan Zee Constructors spokeswoman Carla Julian told The Journal News on Thursday.

Over the years, EarthCam, based in Hackensack, N.J., has documented major construction projects for governments nationwide, including the rebuilding of the World Trade Center.

Initial plans call for placing three cameras around the project site. Julian said the locations are still to be determined as the Tappan Zee Constructors works out access issues.

She expected ultimately there would be more cameras offering detailed views. She pegged the figure at fewer than 10.

The webcams are expected to go online in the coming months to document all aspects of the $3.9 billion project.

Tappan Zee Constructors and EarthCam are still in the early stages of negotiating costs since the level of service hasn’t been determined, Julian said.

People will be able to see real-time streaming video on the project’s website, www.newnybridge.com, and share their favorite images via social media, including Facebook and Twitter. EarthCam also will edit the images into a time-lapse movie.

“It’s going to capture everything,” Julian said. “It’s going to be really cool.”

There is already some construction activity taking place in the Hudson, but it will intensify in the coming months and years, starting with the installation of the first piles that will support the new parallel spans.

Some 100 construction barges will dot the river by next year and by 2016, after the first new span opens, people will get a chance to see the existing Tappan Zee Bridge demolished.

EarthCam said project teams will keep a close eye on activities since the cameras will have robotic capabilities allowing them to remotely pan the job site and zoom in for a detailed view.

“Our team is thrilled to be the construction camera provider for the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement project,” Lisa Kelly, EarthCam’s strategic sales manager, said in a statement. “The new state-of-the-art bridge will drive economic growth to the area and we’re excited to share views of the progress with the public.”

This isn’t the first major bridge project of which EarthCam has been a part. It documented the construction of the Lake Champlain Bridge in upstate New York a few years ago and is still chronicling the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge project.

The company’s website, www.earthcam.com, also offers links to a network of live webcams around the U.S. and the world.

http://m.lohud.com/localheadlines/article?a=2013306060068&f=1166

 

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

New Tappan Zee work site bustles with activity

June 5, 2013 by

LoHud June 5, 2013 Written by Theresa Juva-Brown

From a giant crane hoisting steel beams to workers tightening bolts on an emerging platform in the river, the site of the new Tappan Zee Bridge was bustling with activity on Tuesday.

To promote the $3.9 billion bridge replacement, project officials took about a dozen members of the media on the river to see construction preparations. Leaders from Tappan Zee Constructors — the team designing and building the new bridge — and the Thruway Authority led the tour on a tugboat suitably named Tappan Zee II.

“This project is progressing and you’re going to see it ramp up over the next several months to the next year,” said Brian Conybeare, a special adviser to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “More and more equipment arrives almost daily for this pre-construction work.”

The twin span is set to be completed by April 2018. Crews have just wrapped up test borings of the river’s soil and plan to start test pile-driving next month. Pile-driving tests are necessary to ensure that when permanent supports are installed, they are strong enough to hold the new span.

By the middle of next year, close to 100 work barges will fill the river, with about 30 of them being used to hold giant cranes, officials said.

There are about a dozen barges in the river now, with each dedicated to specific tasks. For example, one team is currently setting up vibration monitoring equipment on the existing bridge, while another is focused on building a 1,000-foot platform off the Tarrytown shore. When completed, the temporary trestle, which won’t be attached to the shore, will house a crane for construction.

“The new northern span will be right over our heads,” Conybeare shouted as the tugboat chugged parallel to the existing bridge on its way to the trestle location.

At the site, a 300-ton crane on a barge slowly lifted a hydraulic power unit that operates a vibratory hammer.

The hammer vibrates piles into the river bed, a technique that is less noisy than pounding them in, officials said.

In addition to the Westchester trestle, crews plan to build a similar one off the Rockland shore, though that one will stretch about 1,300 feet, Conybeare said.

37861007001_2434745098001_vs-51ae778ee4b0c77bd45a17cf-1464912386001

Click here to watch the progress on The New NY Bridge:

http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013306040075

 

 

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

A New Week of Tappan Zee Bridge Repair Work Coming

May 20, 2013 by

Nyack-Piermont Patch  Posted by William Demarest (Editor), 

http://nyack.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/a-new-week-of-tappan-zee-bridge-repair-work-coming?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001&evar4=picks-2-post

Contruction delays on Tappan Zee Bridge

Work on the Tappan Zee Bridge will continue May 20 through May 24, according to the New York State Thruway Authority.

In case of inclement weather, the work may be postponed.

Monday, May 20 through Friday, May 24

During the daytime hours, the contractor will be working within designated maintenance lane closures and/or underneath the bridge.

Nighttime lane closures scheduled for Monday, May 20 through Friday, May 24

Monday, May 20 and Tuesday, May 21

Work will begin at 8 p.m. resulting in the closure of one left southbound lane and an additional left southbound lane at 10:30 p.m. until 6 a.m. on the Tappan ZeeBridge. In addition, this will result in the closure of two left northbound lanes at 9 p.m. and an additional left northbound lane at 10:30 p.m. until 6 a.m., also on theTappan Zee Bridge.  At least one lane southbound and one lane northbound will be opened to traffic from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

During Monday and Tuesday night operations, due to the southbound lane closures, the southbound entrance to the Thruway at Exit 10 (South Nyack) will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and southbound detour signs will be posted through Nyack for the entrance at Route 59 near Exit 11 (Nyack).

During Monday and Tuesday night operations, due to the northbound lane closures, the entrance ramp to the Thruway from Broadway in Tarrytown will also be closed from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. All traffic will be detoured to the entrance ramp from Route 119.

Wednesday, May 22

Work will begin at 8 p.m. resulting in the closure of two left southbound lanes and an additional left southbound lane at 10:30 p.m. until 6 a.m. on the Tappan ZeeBridge. In addition, this will result in the closure of one left northbound lane at 9 p.m. and an additional left northbound lane at 11 p.m. until 6 a.m., also on theTappan Zee Bridge.  At least one lane southbound and one lane northbound will be opened to traffic from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

During Wednesday night operations, due to the southbound lane closures, the southbound entrance to the Thruway at Exit 10 (South Nyack) will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and southbound detour signs will be posted through Nyack for the entrance at Route 59 near Exit 11 (Nyack).

During Wednesday night operations, due to the northbound lane closures, the entrance ramp to the Thruway from Broadway in Tarrytown will also be closed from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. All traffic will be detoured to the entrance ramp from Route 119.

Thursday, May 23

Work will begin at 9 p.m. resulting in the closure of two left southbound lanes and an additional left southbound lane at 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. on the Tappan ZeeBridge. In addition, this will result in the closure of one left northbound lane at 10 p.m. and an additional left northbound lane at 11:30 p.m. until 6 a.m., also on theTappan Zee Bridge.  At least one lane southbound and one lane northbound will be opened to traffic from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

During Thursday night operations, due to the southbound lane closures, the southbound entrance to the Thruway at Exit 10 (South Nyack) will be closed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. and southbound detour signs will be posted through Nyack for the entrance at Route 59 near Exit 11 (Nyack).

During Thursday night operations, due to the northbound lane closures, the entrance ramp to the Thruway from Broadway in Tarrytown will also be closed from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. All traffic will be detoured to the entrance ramp from Route 119.

Friday, May 24

No nighttime work scheduled.

Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26

No work scheduled.

The nighttime lane closures on Monday through Friday are required in order for the contractor to continue with miscellaneous work on the Tappan Zee Bridge.

For the safety of the public and construction workers, motorists are urged to proceed with caution and obey posted work-zone speed limits.

Traffic updates will be broadcast to motorists via Variable Message Signs along the highway and by Highway Advisory Radio 530 AM in the Tappan Zee Bridgecorridor, as well as 1610 AM in the Newburgh area. To see real-time webcam views of the bridge and approaches, go to http://www.thruway.ny.gov/travelers/map/index.html?layer=cameras.

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

ROCKLAND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORS TO BE INSTALLED

May 20, 2013 by

update

For immediate release: May 17, 2013 


Installation of the Rockland environmental monitors is scheduled to begin the week of May 20. These construction monitoring devices, which monitor vibration, noise, and air quality, will be in place for the duration of the New NY Bridge project.

Work on the Westchester trestle continues this week and 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 am and 7 pm Monday through Friday. The trestle is a work platform that will support a crane for the construction of the easternmost 1,000 feet of the new bridge. The 1,000-foot long platform helps reduce the amount of dredging required and allows the crews to work from the water and not from the Westchester shoreline. Environmental monitoring is in place and can be viewed at www.newnybridge.com.

Surveying work and soil sampling for the New NY Bridge Project will continue during the week of May 20 as engineering crews conduct more design surveys at various locations in Rockland and Westchester in the vicinity of the project, including the Westchester access road location on New York State Thruway property in Tarrytown.

Preconstruction geotechnical investigations will continue as small barge-based drilling equipment will work at various locations throughout the project footprint in the Hudson River. The crews are conducting preconstruction geotechnical surveys to determine soil conditions where future piles will be installed for the new span. Noise levels from the equipment will be at a minimum. The river-based operations will run continuously 24 hours a day Monday through Friday and possibly Saturday.

Westchester:
Surveying work and soil sampling for the New NY Bridge Project will continue during the week of May 20.

Rockland:
Limited test-boring operations will continue on land under the existing bridge and just to the north at the proposed bridge locations. These operations are being conducted on New York State Thruway property and will not affect traffic in any way. The work is scheduled to be conducted between the hours of 7 am and 5 pm Monday through Friday.

Soil sampling will be conducted in the area of New York State Thruway during daytime hours; this operation will not cause lane closures and should not affect traffic.

Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC. has no lane closures scheduled on River Road in South Nyack.

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

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.

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

Thousands of jobs, $2 billion in income forecast for region

May 7, 2013 by

LoHud May 7, 2013

Written by, Khurram Saeed and Theresa Juva-Brown

New Bridge Design

Construction of the new Tappan Zee Bridge will create the equivalent of 7,700 full-time jobs and pour $2 billion in disposable personal income into the region in the next five years, according to a new state-commissioned economic study.

“The timing is just incredible — you are talking about putting money into the pockets of working people who for the past three or four years, as a group, had major difficulties,” said Al Samuels, president of the Rockland Business Association. “This is a tremendous asset for folks to come out of the recession.”

Samuels added that when people have more money to spend, local governments also benefit.

“The sales-tax revenue that will accrue to the county and local municipalities is also a big plus,” he said. “It’s good on so many fronts.”

The project is expected to create 38,644 direct and indirect jobs as reported in “job-years,” a standard employment measure used by government on projects. A job-year is one job held for one year. So a trucck driver who works on this project for the next five years will have worked five job-years.

Each year, the project will generate roughly 2,600 construction jobs, 500 office and administrative positions, and some 700 sales and transportation-related jobs, according to the analysis conducted by the state Department of Labor and Empire State Development.

The study predicted employment spikes in management, food services and finance. Additionally, it found that a large construction project like the Tappan Zee “will spur secondary labor demand in retail trade, leisure and hospitality, and population-dependent industries such as health care.”

The study noted that additional analysis was required to figure out specific occupations, when they will be created, and how long they will be needed.

Farrokh Hormozi, an economics professor at Pace University in White Plains, predicted the actual economic impacts of the $3.9 billion five-year project will begin to be felt within a year or so.

“It’s going to boost the economy of the region,” Hormozi said. “This is the type of (project) that cannot be outsourced. … You have to hire local people. Wages and salaries will be made locally. And the impact will be felt locally.”

He said there would be a multiplier effect as workers spend their earnings in their communities. Also, local businesses may directly benefit by providing materials and services for the project or indirectly by seeing their sales increase due to increased demand. That will create income for others, he said.

“These workers, they have to eat, they have to relax and they have go shopping,” Hormozi said.

The job figures were based on $3.9 billion of spending.

“This project is one of the biggest opportunities for us to work collaboratively with local business and contractors on placing New Yorkers in new and exciting jobs,” state Labor Commissioner Peter Rivera said in a statement, adding the agency was prepared to match workers to openings and businesses.

The overwhelming majority of construction and trade jobs will go to local unions, which are covered by a project labor agreement.

But Tappan Zee Constructors, the joint venture that will design and build the new bridge, has already begun accepting résumés from job seekers on its website, http://www.tappanzeeconstructors.com/. The state Labor Department will continue to host career fairs and training to recruit workers.

“The information developed by the state Department of Labor and Empire State Development maps out in new, greater details the jobs that building this new bridge will create throughout the region,” said Thomas Madison, executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority, whose agency requested the study.

Construction of the replacement bridge will generate $3.2 billion in gross domestic product, the study said. The project will create $5.6 billion in total value of all goods produced and $3.7 billion in total personal income.

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

Excitement grows among Tappan Zee Bridge workers

May 6, 2013 by

Lohud.com  May 5, 2013

Written by Theresa Juva-Brown and Khurram Saeed
http://www.lohud.com/article/20130505/NEWS/305050051/Excitement-grows-among-Tappan-Zee-Bridge-workers?source=nletter-news&nclick_check=1

Bobby Stackhouse feels the growing excitement for the new Tappan Zee Bridge as he fuels the boats of the first work crews on the river.

It’s just Stackhouse and about two dozen other union workers currently on site, but they will gradually get more company as thousands of laborers join the monumental effort to build the Tappan Zee replacement in the next five years.

“This is just the beginning,” said Stackhouse, who grew up in North Tarrytown and is lead steward on the project for Teamsters and Chauffeurs Local 456. “All the trades have been starving for the last five or six years — it’s been so bad. This job is like adrenaline being tapped into you. Once it gets going, it’s going to put many people back to work.”

The $3.9 billion project to replace the Tappan Zee is expected to employ roughly 2,600 full-time construction workers each year for the next five years, according to state economic models based on the cost of the project. Some of those union members may work during certain portions of the project, while others may be employed for the duration of the project.

So far, the small team that includes Stackhouse is making early preparations such as setting up staging areas on piers and testing the river soil. As the work intensifies in the coming months, Stackhouse, 59, will manage groups of truck drivers, transport equipment for repairs and keep track of supplies.

“People who are coming to this job know it’s steady work for a while, and they’ll be OK with their bills,” he said. “Everyone is very happy out here.”

From carpenters to crane operators, workers from dozens of construction specialties will all work under the same labor agreement to complete the 3-mile, twin spans by April 2018.

The deal encompasses some 50 locals and was negotiated last year between local and state union leaders and the New York State Thruway Authority. The several-hundred-page document establishes consistent policies regarding work hours, overtime rates and holidays. The common rules will save the state some $450 million, while also providing highly skilled workers for the complex job, officials say.

Longer work weeks

Many of the unions typically work 35 hours a week, with any work beyond that paid as overtime. But under the bridge’s labor agreement, the standard work week on the project will be 40 hours, either in four 10-hour days or five eight-hour days.

The wages, compensation packages and annual raises union workers receive will vary based on trade and experience. They are standard rates for their work that were negotiated between the unions and their trade councils, and are not specific to the bridge project. Workers will also receive annual raises based on trade and experience.

For example, a fully-trained ironworker specializing in the bridge’s steel structure will receive $110 an hour in total compensation. That includes $46 in wages and $64 for health and other benefits.

Workers will receive an extra $25 every day they show up an hour before the start of their shift, to give them more than enough time to catch a bus or boat to their job site. The bonus is designed to save TZC both time and money by making sure shifts start on time, officials said.

A cap on the overtime rate is another way the state expects to save money. While some unions are paid a double-time rate for overtime, all union workers on this job will be paid at time-and-a-half.

The agreement also standardizes paid holidays for workers. Some unions receive a dozen holidays on other jobs, but will get eight on this one. The deal details how to settle disputes and handle injuries and guarantees that there will be no strikes, slowdowns or picketing by labor or lockouts by management.

Even with the compromises, the deal was worth it because it will give a pool of some 40,000 union members a chance for steady work, union leaders said. That’s important for some trades that have suffered with unemployment rates as high as 40 percent in recent years.

“What’s guaranteed is that the men on the job are from (local) building trades,” said Pete Creegan, business agent for Iron Workers Ornamental Local 580, which has about 1,000 members in Westchester and Putnam counties. “It keeps the people living in the area paying their school taxes, putting their kids through school, and keeping those communities alive. Everyone benefits.”

Safety and security

While standardized rules in project labor agreements are typical, the one for the Tappan Zee project includes stiff, and in some cases unprecedented, requirements to minimize the risk of accidents, ensure top performance and keep the site secure.

“This job … requires every worker on the job, including management, including people designing the bridge in an office miles way, to be substance tested” for drug and alcohol use, Ross Pepe, president of the Construction Industry Council of Westchester and Hudson Valley, said.

“It’s the only public works project in the state, that I know of, that has a requirement for substance testing,” Pepe said.

The drug and alcohol tests will be administered before employment, on a random basis, following accidents and for reasonable suspicion. Tarrytown-based Clarity Testing will carry out the program and perform daily urine tests on site.

Because project workers will know details about the bridge’s design and structure, workers have to undergo background checks to see whether they have criminal histories, immigration issues or financial problems that could make them vulnerable to bribes, officials said.

Those entering the work zone, whether they are top managers, daily workers or visitors, will have to go through homeland security clearance ahead of time.

These safety and security measures also lower costs for liability insurance and worker’s compensation and reduce the project’s overall price tag, they said.

A diverse workforce

Women and minority workers will get special consideration as part of the labor agreement. It requires that nearly 30 percent of the total construction hours — 22.6 percent for minorities and 6.9 percent for women — go to those groups.

Though there aren’t specific requirements for this project, union leaders said they are currently working with Helmets to Hard Hats to get military veterans on the job.

Union workers will carry out the majority of the actual construction, but the labor agreement allows up to 12 percent of the workforce to include nonunion workers.

Because public money is involved, even non-union construction workers have to be paid the prevailing wage, which is set by state law.

Most of the nonunion work on the project will be related to activities outside of construction, such as public relations and information technology.

Creegan, the ironworker union leader, said the Tappan Zee project is a special opportunity for workers to accomplish a great feat.

“They accept that challenge,” he said. “What’s a better feeling than making it happen at the end of the day?”

 

 

Filed Under: Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
May 3, 2013 by

www.NewNYBridge.com

For immediate release: May 3, 2013

The new NY bridge

WESTCHESTER TEMPORARY TRESTLE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULED TO BEGIN

Work is expected to begin during the week of May 6 on the Westchester trestle, which is the first of the temporary work trestles to be constructed as part of the New NY Bridge project.

The work will include daytime pile driving to install the temporary foundation piles needed to support the platform. Pile driving will be limited to a maximum of 7:00am to 7:00pm Monday through Friday and is expected begin on Friday May 10. The trestle is a work platform that will support a crane for the construction of the easternmost 1000 feet of the new bridge. The 1000-foot long platform helps reduce the amount of dredging required and allows the crews to work from the water and not from the Westchester shoreline.

In addition, two mooring buoys will be installed in the Hudson River on the Rockland side of the channel. These will be utilized to secure work barges and will be on site for the duration of the project.

Surveying work and soil sampling for the New NY Bridge Project will continue during the week of May 6 as engineering crews conduct more design surveys at various locations in Rockland and Westchester in the vicinity of the project, including the Westchester haul road location on New York State Thruway property in Tarrytown.

Preconstruction geotechnical investigations will continue as small barge-based drilling equipment will work at various locations throughout the project footprint in the Hudson River. The crews are conducting preconstruction geotechnical surveys to determine soil conditions where future piles will be installed for the new span. Noise levels from the equipment will be at a minimum. The river-based operations will run continuously 24 hours a day Monday through Friday and possibly Saturday.

Westchester:
Limited test-boring operations will continue on land under the existing bridge and just to the north at the proposed bridge locations. These operations are being conducted on Thruway property and will not affect traffic in any way. The work is scheduled to be conducted between the hours of 7 am and 5 pm Monday through Friday.

Rockland:
At times traffic on River Road near the South Nyack-Grand View border will be restricted to one lane during weekday daytime hours for utility investigations. Signs and flag persons will be in place to help keep traffic flowing safely.

Limited test-boring operations may start on land under the existing bridge and just to the north at the proposed bridge locations. These operations are being conducted on Thruway property and will not affect traffic in any way. The work is scheduled to be conducted between the hours of 7 am and 5 pm Monday through Friday.

 

 

https://tappanzeebridge.randcommercial.com/922/

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

New NY Bridge Project Update April 19, 2013

April 19, 2013 by

The new NY bridge

April 19, 2013

New NY Bridge surveying crews to conduct multiple operations

Surveying work for the New NY Bridge Project will continue during the week of April 22 as engineering crews conduct more design surveys at various locations in Rockland and Westchester in the vicinity of the project, including the Westchester Haul Road location on New York State Thruway property in Tarrytown.

Installation of construction monitoring devices is planned at several locations this week. These devices, which monitor vibration, noise, and air quality, will be in place for the duration of the project to record construction activity impacts.

Preconstruction surveys of properties located near the construction will begin next week. These operations will be conducted by engineering teams and will involve photographing the exterior and interior of structures. Tappan Zee Constructors is coordinating with the property owners for access.

Preconstruction geotechnical investigations will continue as small barge-based drilling equipment will work at various locations throughout the project footprint in the Hudson River. The crews are conducting preconstruction geotechnical surveys to determine soil conditions where future piles will be installed for the new span. Noise levels from the equipment will be at a minimum. The river-based operations will run continuously 24 hours a day Monday through Friday and possibly Saturday.

Westchester:
Limited test-boring operations will continue on land under the existing bridge and just to the north at the proposed bridge locations. These operations are being conducted on Thruway property and will not affect traffic in any way. The work is scheduled to be conducted between the hours of 7 am and 5 pm Monday through Friday.

Rockland:
There are no land-based boring operations scheduled for the Rockland area for the week of April 22.

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

Tappan Zee Constructors recommended to build new Tappan Zee Bridge

December 6, 2012 by

Tappan Zee Bridge Presentation: The state Thruway Authority on Dec. 5, 2012 released three designs to build a new Tappan Zee Bridge. The $3.1 billion bid from Tappan Zee Constructors has apparently won the state’s recommendation. Video by WGRZ/wgrz.com

Tappan Zee Constructors has won the state’s advisory committee recommendation to build the new Tappan Zee Bridge for $3.1 billion, a source close to the selection process told The Journal News on Wednesday.

The consortium, which includes the company that built the existing 3-mile Tappan Zee 57 years ago, offered the least expensive bridge plan among the three teams competing for one of the largest public works projects in the country.

The suggested design for the Tappan Zee replacement, a cable-stayed bridge, has oddly angled towers on each span, a feature so unique it’s never been used in the United States, a state official said. He added that he knows of only one bridge — in Russia — with a similar element.

The twin-span bridge would also include a concrete deck on top of steel girders. Like the other two options, it would be strong enough to carry trains in the future. In addition, it would have deck connections in four places that can be used to turn traffic around in emergencies.

The crossing would have 35 piers in the river and be made up of 350-foot long spans to create the road deck. Those spans would be six times longer than the current ones. The proposal also calls for less dredging during construction than the state initially said would be required.

The Thruway Authority on Wednesday released the three proposals for the new bridge, but did not identify each team’s proposal, citing federal rules.

“To get a bridge to this point in a year was really a fantastic accomplishment,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a presentation at the Capitol.

Officials also announced that the state’s 38-member review panel had chosen the $3.1 billion bid because “they determined it was the best value,” said Brian Conybeare, a special adviser on the project.

The three proposals pegged the replacement cost between $3.1 billion and $4 billion, all much less than the initial construction price tag of $5.2 billion. Still, the proposal prices are preliminary estimates and don’t include another $600 to $800 million for expenses such as financing and management, state officials said.

American Bridge Co., which built the Tappan Zee, and Fluor Enterprises are members of the recommended Tappan Zee Constructors team. Those two firms are also involved in the $6.4 billion reconstruction of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. A joint venture involving Kiewit Infrastructure and Skanska USA and a partnership of Bechtel Infrastructure and Tutor Perini also submitted proposals.

The construction time for each proposal was more than five years. Work is expected to begin next year.

Though the state’s panel has selected Tappan Zee Constructors, the Thruway Authority board makes the final decision. The board is set to vote for a winning team on Dec. 17. Until then, officials said the public can weigh in on the proposals on the bridge project’s website: http://www.newnybridge.com.

The design review team’s recommendations will be a major factor in the final decision, said Thomas Madison, the Thruway Authority’s executive director.

The contract award will have a ripple effect for homeowners in Rockland and Westchester.

A group of six neighbors in South Nyack are waiting to learn if they’ll remain in their homes during construction or they’ll be bought out, as most of them want. The state originally planned to take the homes but reversed that decision in May. The homeowners have asked the state to reconsider.

Homeowners said state officials have told them the contract award would allow the state to finally make a decision.

“It would be good to finally come to some kind of closure because everything has been up in the air for the longest time,” said John Cameron, who has lived in his South Broadway home with his wife, Hope Elliott Cameron, for the past six years.

A state official told Cameron and his neighbors they have reason to be “optimistic,” which he believes means the state will ask the winning bidder to buy the homes, he said.

Not everyone was satisfied with Wednesday’s developments, though.

Veronica Vanterpool, executive director of Tri-State Transportation Campaign, charged that the state’s preview of the proposals was incomplete. Her group has pushed for the plan to include mass transit along the Interstate 287 corridor.

“The proposals are still unclear about what mass transit ready means,” Vanterpool said in an email to The Journal News. “We look forward to an announcement of the TZB transit task force so these details can be hammered out. The proposals came in significantly below the projected $5.2 billion price tag, creating a greater opportunity to incorporate low-cost, bus rapid transit improvements into the project.”

Riverkeeper, the Hudson River’s leading advocacy group, was also not eager to endorse any of the proposals. Riverkeeper has criticized the state’s plan for not adequately addressing how the project could harm marine life.

“Riverkeeper is not surprised that the state has identified a reduced dredging option,” president Paul Gallay said. “We and the rest of the public need more information as to how this will affect the project’s overall environmental impacts, and we will seek to have those discussions with the state as soon as possible.”

Al Samuels, president of the Rockland Bussiness Association, said he agreed with the selection committee’s recommendation, which he said “makes the most sense.”

Plans for the new bridge have moved swiftly since last year, when the Obama Administration named it one of 14 top priority infrastructure projects across the country. In September, the Federal Highway Administration gave final approval to the project’s environmental study, allowing the replacement plan to proceed

It remains unclear, however, whether the federal government will give the state a low-interest loan. In its loan application, the state had said a new bridge could cost up to $5.9 billion. Without a significant loan, state officials warned of soaring tolls. Officials had said the current $5 cash toll could rise to $14.

Rockland Legislature Chairwoman Harriet Cornell said Wednesday she wants to know what a smaller price tag means for those toll increases.

“I’ve talked for years about not putting the tolls on the backs of commuters,” Cornell said.

 

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

New Tappan Zee Bridge Project Update : Video

August 3, 2012 by

Filed Under: Home Feature, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , , ,

New Tappan Zee Bridge Project – Project Meeting July 25, 2012

July 26, 2012 by

Here is the video:

Filed Under: Home Feature, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: , , , , ,

The New Tappan Zee Project :Video

March 15, 2012 by

Executive Director Thomas J Madison on the LoHud Editorial Spotlight discusses the new Tappan Zee Bridge and its impact on the Hudson Valley:

 

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