For immediate release: Oct. 1, 2015
BRIDGE BUILDERS PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE HURRICANE
Marine Construction Work Temporarily Halted for Safety
Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) is preparing for the potential effects of Hurricane Joaquin, which forecasters say could hit the Hudson Valley region in the coming days. In advance of the storms approach, TZC is implementing its storm preparedness plans, temporarily halting marine construction operations and the movement of construction materials, while securing the job site to prevent possible storm damage. By closely monitoring weather conditions and taking appropriate action in advance, TZC will ensure both worker and public safety while minimizing any potential storm-related downtime on the project.
TZCs inclement weather preparation protocols include having tug boats on the water at all times, inspecting and adjusting all mooring lines, inspecting crane barges and securing all equipment, moving the large majority of cranes to shallow water moorings and taking all smaller crew boats out of the water. Additionally throughout every storm, TZC uses video and GPS to monitor the entire fleet of project vessels from its security operations center.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today activated the State Emergency Operations Center in Albany to monitor severe weather that is anticipated to impact southern parts of New York State beginning today and potentially lasting through this weekend.
Additional New York State storm preparedness updates can be found here:
http://www.governor.ny.gov/news
The following construction operations planned for next week will proceed as weather allows:
Steel Girder Installation
TZC will continue installing steel girders near the South Nyack shoreline. Safely accomplishing the work will require reducing River Road to one lane during weekdays between 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Flag persons will keep traffic moving by alternating the directional flow between north and south.
Smaller girder sections will be lifted into place by cranes from the Rockland trestle. Ironworkers then bolt together the girders and cross beams that will support the new bridges concrete road deck. In deeper water, the I Lift NY super crane will continue placing larger girders, 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.
All-Electronic Toll Collection Gantry Work
Construction of the projects temporary all-electronic toll collection (AETC) system in Rockland County will continue next week with the installation of an overhead gantry above the exit 10 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W) on-ramp to southbound New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287). The work necessitates overnight double-lane closures throughout the coming week. Specific lane closures are listed in the chart below.
Lane Closures Near the Tappan Zee Bridge
Tower Construction Installation of Noise Barriers in South Nyack Additional work includes:
Boater Safety The U.S. Coast Guard has established a Safety Zone surrounding 16 construction barge mooring locations at the project site. No unauthorized vessels are allowed in the Safety Zone. In addition, marine law enforcement will be enforcing the rules of the expanded Regulated Navigation Areas (RNAs) east and west of the Safety Zone. The RNAs stretch 500 yards north and 500 yards south of the existing bridge. Boaters are urged to transit the main channel with no wake at a maximum speed of 5 knots and to use extreme caution on the river at all times. More New NY Bridge boater safety information, including the U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners and construction site maps, can be found here at NewNYBridge.com. An interactive map showing vessel locations on the Hudson River is also available here for recreational and commercial boaters to get updated information on 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 visithttp://www.thruway.ny.gov/travelers/map/ for real-time information regarding traffic conditions. ### |