All lanes of the New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) will remain open from Wednesday, Nov. 26 through Sunday, Nov. 30 to help New Yorkers reach their Thanksgiving holiday destinations. The five-day, lane-closure-free period follows Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s “Drivers First” initiative, which gives priority to motorists by ensuring that disruptions associated with highway and bridge projects are kept as minimal as possible.
With accumulating snow forecasted to fall on Wednesday in the vicinity of the Tappan Zee Bridge, motorists are encouraged to consult this news release from Governor Cuomo 
for guidance on staying safe as they travel.
Triple-Lane Closure on Northbound Thruway During Overnight of Friday, Dec. 5
During the overnight of Friday, Dec. 5, three lanes of the northbound Thruway will be closed to accommodate restriping (i.e., applying lane markers) and a minor shifting of lanes. The closure was originally scheduled for this week, but was delayed due to inclement weather. The planned closure will extend four miles between exit 9 in Tarrytown and exit 10 in Nyack, and will be in effect from 11:59 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5 to 6 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 6. One northbound travel lane will remain open throughout this period. Prior to the triple-lane closure, two lanes of the northbound Thruway will be closed from 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5.
The operation also will require the closure of the exit 10 off ramp from 10 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5 to 5 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 6. Exiting motorists will be directed to use exit 11 and follow signs to Route 9W and Route 59.
Continued Demolition of Westchester Landing of Existing Tappan Zee Bridge
A small section of the existing Tappan Zee Bridge’s Westchester landing will be removed during overnight hours next Tuesday to make room for the new bridge. The work will enable construction of the abutment and the first foundation pier for the new northbound bridge, which is due to be completed late 2016.
Pile Driving and Other Construction Activity
Construction will continue in the Hudson River as crews place the foundations of the new bridge. Work will include pile driving between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday and noon to 7 p.m., Saturday.
A second shift of workers also will continue pile welding, pile cleanout and concrete placement operations associated with foundations.
Related to the Westchester landing work referenced above, work is continuing on the new bridge’s landings on both sides of the river. In Westchester, work includes drilling holes into the bedrock for the foundation of the landing. In Rockland, a similar operation is improving the strength of the soil by using aggregate piers, which are constructed with a drill that mixes soil and aggregate (i.e., crushed stone) to form a strong base for the new bridge’s abutment and foundation. The drilling process is less audible than impact pile driving and noise-reducing measures are being implemented to further minimize sound levels. The eight-week operation is anticipated to conclude in late November.
Additional work includes:
- Pile cap foundation construction
- Main span foundation construction
- River Road utility work
- Rockland trestle construction, including pile driving
- Support for river-based work from the Rockland trestle
- Survey inspections on existing bridge
Boater Safety
The U.S. Coast Guard has established a Safety Zone surrounding 16 construction barge mooring locations at the project site. No unauthorized vessels are allowed in the Safety Zone. In addition, marine law enforcement will be enforcing the rules of the expanded Regulated Navigation Areas (RNAs) east and west of the Safety Zone. The RNAs stretch 500 yards north and 500 yards south of the existing bridge. Boaters are urged to transit the main channel with no wake at a maximum speed of 5 knots, and to use extreme caution on the river at all times.
More New NY Bridge boater safety information, including the U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners and construction site maps, can be found here at NewNYBridge.com. An interactive map showing vessel locations on the Hudson River is also available here for recreational and commercial boaters to get updated information on this very active construction zone. The GPS tracking map is for informational purposes and not intended for navigation.
Mariners also should be aware that TZC will continue work in the vicinity of the side channels under the existing bridge. Additional temporary navigational lights have been installed to further define the 600-foot navigation channel under the main span. Permanent elements of the new bridge are lit per U.S. Coast Guard requirements, as are all moorings, barges and other equipment.
All lane closures are subject to change due to traffic, weather or emergency situations. Please visit https://www.thruway.ny.gov/travelers/map/index.html?layer=incidents for real-time information regarding traffic conditions.
