Temporary lane closures will be suspended beginning Wednesday, November 21, at 6 a.m. through Monday, November 26, at 6 a.m., to accommodate travelers during the busiest Thanksgiving travel days. Some work may continue behind permanent concrete barriers or for emergency repairs. The construction suspension supports Governor Cuomo’s Drivers First initiative, which prioritizes the convenience of motorists to minimize traffic congestion and travel delays due to road and bridge work.
New Yorkers are also reminded that state and local law enforcement will be participating in an impaired driving enforcement campaign from Wednesday, November 21, through Sunday, November 25. The enforcement and education campaign is designed to prevent intoxicated and drugged driving on state and local roads. Motorists can expect to see law enforcement stopping and arresting impaired drivers to keep New York’s roads safe this holiday week.
“With this year’s Thanksgiving holiday expected to be one of the busiest in recent years, it is our top priority to ensure all travelers reach their destination safely and without delay,” Governor Cuomo said. “I urge all drivers to be responsible on the roads so that New Yorkers and visitors can enjoy the holiday with family and friends.”
Governor Cuomo is also urging motorists to follow the state’s Move Over Law which requires motorists to drive with care, slow down, and safely move over when approaching law enforcement vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances, tow trucks, and construction or maintenance vehicles that are stopped along roads across the state. The law was enacted in 2011 to protect New Yorkers working along the roadway and has since been expanded to include a wider range of emergency and hazard vehicles.
Thruway Authority Executive Director Matthew J. Driscoll said, “With construction on hold for the holiday weekend, motorists will have fewer delays as they travel to their Thanksgiving destination. We urge motorists to stay alert and drive safely, to ensure that they, along with workers and emergency responders who are out on the roads, are able to spend the holidays with loved ones.”
Motorists are encouraged to utilize 64 text stops, as well as Service Areas, Rest Areas and Welcome Centers located statewide as needed for texting, making phone calls, and other non-driving tasks.
There may be slight variations for certain Thruway projects based on previous traffic volume. A detailed schedule of Thruway lane closures throughout the holiday weekend is available here.
Bicycle/Pedestrian Path
TZC will continue to install rebar and pour concrete on the northern side of the westbound span for the bridge’s shared-use bicycle/pedestrian path and overlooks. The work follows the temporary shift in Rockland-bound traffic to the southern side of the westbound span, allowing TZC to build the path behind temporary concrete barriers.
At the Westchester Landing, foundation construction continues at the site of the Welcome Center and storage facility. Operations include inspections, pouring concrete and rebar installation.
At the Rockland Landing, a section of the Esposito Trail from Clinton Avenue and South Franklin Street to South Nyack Village Hall remains closed for the construction of the side path. Pedestrians and cyclists are being detoured to South Broadway and through Elizabeth Place Park.
Additionally, crews will continue construction of a retaining wall along Hillside Avenue, necessitating temporary lane closures. Flag persons will keep traffic moving by alternating the directional flow between east and west. Ramp construction will also continue for the new connection between Interchange 10 and Hillside Avenue.
Additional work includes:
- Concrete pouring, grading and landscaping near bridge landings
- Stripping of eastbound span expansion joints
- Internal tower work
- Electronic equipment installation and testing
- Dismantling of the old bridge’s pile caps, piles, caissons and the Rockland trestle
- Internal work on Thruway Maintenance and New York State Police facilities
Boater Safety
The eastern 300 feet of the 600-foot wide main navigation channel is closed to all vessel transits until further notice. Red buoys with all around white light have been set to mark the eastern side of the channel.
Periodic closures of the main navigation channel are anticipated to continue during the demolition period. Cranes, barges and other equipment will occupy parts of the channel during this time. Boaters are strongly encouraged to avoid the project site during the closures and to avoid the Regulated Navigation Areas, located east and west of the main channel.
Times and dates of the closures are subject to change and will appear in the U.S. Coast Guard’s weekly Notice to Mariners; on the project’s Twitter feed (@NewNYBridge); and broadcast on Marine Radio Channel 22A. Tappan Zee Constructors can be contacted via Marine Radio Channel 16 for assistance.
Rockland and Westchester marine units continue to patrol the project site.
More boater safety information, including the U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners, a construction site map and GPS-tracked construction vessel locations, can be found at NewNYBridge.com/Boater.
The New York State Thruway Authority provides this information as a public service. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. Nothing in these guidelines shall supersede the actual construction conditions, and regulations set forth by the U.S. Coast Guard.
