Three Years in Two Minutes

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ALSO: What do the new TZ Bridge and a NASCAR track have in common?

Construction Viewing Platform

Scenic Hudson RiverWalk Park, Tarrytown, NY

Next to the Tarrytown Senior Center at
240 West Main St.

Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: Build a new Tappan Zee Bridge, commercial real estate rockland county ny, hudson valley, New NY Bridge Monthly Newsletter, new york state thruway, rand commercial services, tappanzeebridgeinfo.com, The New NY Bridge, The New Tappan Zee Bridge

Tappan Zee Bridge Zipper’s days are numbered

July 23, 2015 by Rand Commercial

“It’s not a bus. It’s us,” says Richie Lynch of Valley Cottage, one of the drivers of the barrier-moving machine that is still a strange sight for the uninitiated, even 22 years after first arriving on the bridge. Callers regularly report the vehicle as an accident in progress, Lynch says.

“Some people drive by and take pictures,” says Lynch, who has worked on the bridge for 25 years. “We get a lot of thumbs-ups for giving them the extra lane. And we get a different salute when we’re running late.”

Some call it “The Zipper” — because it acts like a zipper does, sliding the barrier from one spot to another — but Lynch and the four other members of the barrier team just call it “the barrier mover.”

Whatever the name, the 52-foot-long, million-dollar vehicle is now part of the bridge, a welcome sight for bumper-to-bumper commuters on whom it bestows a somewhat speedier ride through the Tappan Zee bottleneck, creating four lanes where there were three. It makes about 600 crossings a year.

In January, a Zipper was added to San Francisco’s storied Golden Gate Bridge. But the Tappan Zee Zipper’s days are numbered.

In December 2016, northbound traffic is scheduled to transfer to the new northbound span of the New New York Bridge. The two barrier movers — there’s an extra on standby, swapped in during maintenance — will be sold and will enter the lore of the Tappan Zee, alongside those pre-EZPass commutation booklets.

VIDEO BELOW: Ride inside the Zipper

The Zippers — the second-generation of vehicle by California-based Lindsay Transportation Systems, in use since 2007 — move the wall 12 feet to the right, the width of a travel lane, in one fluid motion with every trip across the bridge. It used to take two machines to make the move.

The wall itself is second-generation, too. The original had concrete sections; today’s sections — there are 6,000 of them, each 3 feet long — are T-shaped steel shells with a concrete center.

There is so much more going on than meets the eye when the Tappan Zee Zipper is in motion. The barrier is shaped and reformed through hydraulics and an ingenious machine that acts like a chiropractor on a 3-mile-long Tappan Zee spine, adjusting and releasing tension in the wall — and in rush-hour traffic.

Driving and laying: The Zipper doesn’t drag the wall. It lifts it, snakes it through a double row of wheels in its undercarriage, and places it back on the deck. In a sort of push-me-pull-you configuration, a second driver — facing the shore from which the Zipper departed — “lays” the barrier back in position by keeping a wheel on one of the blue lines on the pavement.

“When you drive on it, all you’re doing is engaging it on the wheels and lifting it up,” Lynch says. “When it gets to the middle of the machine, that’s where it starts to shift it to the other side, and then the conveyor takes it down and sets it back onto the deck.”

“Bogey wheels:” The 104 wheels that engage the T-top and lift the barrier are called “bogey wheels” and glide the barrier up a railing under the vehicle and help it snake into its new position.

A “wow” in the wall: Ernie Feeney, a patrol supervisor and another original Zipper driver, says the wall sometimes gets a kink in it, when a motorist hits it.

“We call it a ‘wow,'” Feeney says. “Maybe somebody spun out and hit the wall. The wall gives now because it’s a giant centipede so your car doesn’t get totally wrecked like it used to be if you had a solid cement wall. A lot of people now just drive off with minor damage.”

When the barrier machine comes across, if there’s just a little “wow” in the wall, they can just drive straight through it. A bigger accident requires a wrecker and a push bar to get it close to its natural line.

Stop the Zipper: There are things that will stop the barrier in its tracks, Lynch says. “If there’s a jumper in the middle of the move, we’ll stop. If there’s a bad accident or if there’s an accident in the left lane or the two left lanes, sometimes we’ll bring the wall up to it and stop to protect them.”

Migration lines: Like rush-hour commuters, the barrier is under tension. There are yellow lines on the wall that correspond to lines on the deck. If these migration lines don’t line up, the Zipper driver can adjust huge capstan wheels to add or release tension in the wall to pull or push it back in line.

Hydraulics, Benjamin: “It’s all done by hydraulics,” Lynch says. “Your steering, your brakes, the drive motors, it’s all hydraulics. And those lines and fittings need to be checked every day to make sure they’re not leaking.”

Every 20 feet or so on the flat sections (and farther away on the inclines) there are single open-topped T sections. These “VLB sections” actually control the tension in strands of the barrier. They have hydraulic controls in them and open and close to allow strands of the wall to go slack and be moved. Think of it as pulling a 3-mile-long rope 20 feet at a time. On curves, there are more VLB sections to hold the curve in place until the machine reaches it.

No connection: The barrier mover isn’t connected to the wall. It has to drive onto the wall. When he’s driving, Lynch keeps a control bar centered over the wall ahead of him.

3 miles, 30 minutes: The move takes about 35 to 40 minutes, if the wall is in good shape. “If there’s more tension or compression, it might take a little longer because you have to go through it slower to make the adjustments,” Lynch says.

U-turns possible: Eagle-eyed drivers will notice three 45-foot sections of bridge where the T-tops appear to be hollow. There are three spots on the bridge — near either end and in the middle — where the barrier can be opened to allow for a U-turn.

Hello, I must be going: “The men and all of us are going to miss it,” Lynch says. “And I think the public’s gonna miss it, too. It’s nice to have an extra lane when you need it.”

NYS Thruway employee Rich Lynch drives the barrier-moving machine across the Tappan Zee Bridge, adding a lane northbound. Tania Savayan/The Journal News

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/tappan-zee-bridge/2015/07/16/tappan-zee-bridge-zipper-days-numbered/30142559/

Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: Build a new Tappan Zee Bridge, hudson valley, tappanzeebridgeinfo.com, The New Tappan Zee Bridge, TZ Bridge Zipper

The New NY Bridge July Newsletter

July 2, 2015 by Rand Commercial

July 2015

New NY Bridge Project Monthly Newsletter

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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.

Celebrate-and Navigate-Safely:

New NY Bridge Team Reminds Boaters to Use Caution Near the Project Site

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.

Restoring the Reefs:

Oyster Restoration in the Hudson

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.

Third Concrete Batch Plant Arrives:

Production Capacity More than Doubles

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.

[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.

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

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

The Votes Are In, Tappan Zee Falcon Chicks Are ‘Hudson, Bridge-ette and Zee’:

Construction Viewing Platform

Scenic Hudson RiverWalk Park, Tarrytown, NY

Next to the Tarrytown Senior Center at
240 West Main St.

Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: Build a new Tappan Zee Bridge, commercial real estate westchester county, hudson valley, Newsletter, randcommercialservices, tappan zee contractors, tappanzeebridgeinfo.com, The New NY Bridge, The New Tappan Zee Bridge, westchester county commercial real estate, westchester county ny

Holiday Traffic Update

July 2, 2015 by Rand Commercial

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 States 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.

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 publics 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 projects floating batch plants. Teams also will erect formwork for the cast-in-place pier columns, which eventually will support the new bridges road deck.

Crews also will continue working on the bridges 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 Thruways 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: Build a new Tappan Zee Bridge, commercial real estate rockland county ny, construction, new york state thruway, project update, rand commercial services, tappan zee contractors, tappanzeebridgeinfo.com, The New NY Bridge, The New Tappan Zee Bridge, traffic, westchester county commercial real estate

June 2015 New NY Bridge Newsletter

June 15, 2015 by Rand Commercial

June 2015

New NY Bridge Project Monthly Newsletter

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A Day After Being Named, Falcon Chicks Make Inaugural Flights

Following a week-long campaign in which more than 3,000 ballots were cast, the New NY Bridge project is pleased to announce the winners of its 2015 falcon naming poll: Hudson, Bridge-ette and Zee received the greatest number of votes among 10 candidate names provided by local elementary schools.

Just the Right Light:

Behind the Design of the New Bridge’s Lighting

When it came to designing the lighting of the New NY Bridge, the project team’s strategy was twofold: accentuate the architectural features of the iconic crossing while at the same time respecting the context in which it is built: the historic Hudson Valley. To achieve this balance-while also maintaining high standards of efficiency and safety-the team engaged Domingo Gonzalez Associates, (DGA) a leading architectural lighting design firm based in New York City.

2015 Annual Public Meetings, Taking Stock:

Project Leaders Review Progress, Look Ahead

The New NY Bridge project held its annual public meetings in Westchester and Rockland on May 12 and 14, respectively, to give residents an in-depth briefing about construction progress to date and what lies ahead for the largest bridge and highway project in the nation.

Passing a New Milestone:

New Bridge’s First Pier Cap Installed

The New NY Bridge project crossed another milestone this week with the installation of the first precast pier cap. These large concrete fixtures sit atop completed pier columns and eventually will support the new bridge’s road deck.

Boater Safety 2015:
Piermont Channel Changes, Enhanced Marine Patrols

With the 2015 recreational boating season now underway, the New NY Bridge project team’s partnership with local officials is further enhancing safety on the waters of the Hudson River. As construction intensifies this summer, helping all boaters navigate safely near the work area is a top priority for the project team.

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.


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

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

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

Construction Viewing Platform

Scenic Hudson RiverWalk Park, Tarrytown, NY

Next to the Tarrytown Senior Center at
240 West Main St.

Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: Build a new Tappan Zee Bridge, construction, contractor, hudson valley, June 2015 New NY Bridge Newsletter, rand commercial services, rockland county ny, tappanzeebridgeinfo.com, The New Tappan Zee Bridge, TZ Falcon chicks, westchester county ny

Annual Meeting May 14, 2015

May 8, 2015 by Rand Commercial

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.

Filed Under: Governor Cuomo, Tappan Zee Bridge Tagged With: annual meeting, Brian Conybeare, Build a new Tappan Zee Bridge, construction schedule, rand commercial services, tappanzeebridgeinfo.com, The New NY Bridge, The New Tappan Zee Bridge

The New NY Bridge Newsletter for May 2015

April 28, 2015 by Rand Commercial

May 2015

New NY Bridge Project Monthly Newsletter

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[VIDEO]

Super Crane’s First Lift

One of the world’s largest floating cranes successfully completed the first of many enormous lifts for the New NY Bridge project on April 24, 2015, following months of planning and preparation.

Clearing the Air:

Building the New NY Bridge Bigger, Stronger, Greener

As Earth Day is observed, New Yorkers literally can breathe easier, knowing that the New NY Bridge project is being built with some of the cleanest construction equipment in the world.

Inside Fort Miller:

Upstate Manufacturer Creating New Bridge’s Main Span Deck

As the New NY Bridge project begins its most intense stage of construction, one upstate business is busy manufacturing nearly 1,000 concrete deck panels for the crossing’s main span roadway.

[VIDEO]

Time Lapse: Northern Westchester Abutment

The New NY Bridge project marked another milestone this spring as Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC placed concrete for the crossing’s northern Westchester abutment. The structure will support the new bridge’s landing and was formed by pouring over 650 cubic yards of concrete in one day. You can watch the entire operation take place in just under a minute.

Visitors Welcome!:

Project Outreach Centers: One-Stop Shop for Information and Answers

In addition to educational outreach programs that have reached thousands of students, ongoing public presentations and a comprehensive website, the New NY Bridge project maintains two community outreach centers near the project site. Located in downtown Tarrytown and Nyack, and open seven days a week, the centers provide a window into the largest bridge and highway project in the nation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:	How long will the new bridge last?
A:	The New NY Bridge is designed to last 100 years before any major structural maintenance is required.


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

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