Temporary lane closures will be suspended through Wednesday, December 26, to accommodate travelers during the extended holiday weekend. Construction will also be suspended from 6 a.m. Saturday, December 29, through 6 a.m. Wednesday, January 2. 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 reminded that state and local law enforcement are participating in the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which runs through Tuesday, January 1, 2019. Motorists can expect to see sobriety checkpoints and more New York State Troopers on the roadways during the holiday travel season. The New York State Thruway Authority will also continue its 48-year tradition of offering free coffee and hot tea to travelers at all 27 travel plazas along the Thruway from 11 p.m. New Year’s Eve through 7 a.m. New Year’s morning to promote safe and alert driving.
“The holiday season is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and our top priority is to ensure travelers reach their destinations safely to enjoy the holiday with loved ones,” Governor Cuomo said. “I urge all drivers to be responsible on the roads, stay alert and never drink and drive.”
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, “This holiday travel season, we encourage motorists to make safety a priority. Move over for emergency vehicles, give snow plows plenty of room, and be responsible and alert. We want everyone, including our workers and emergency responders, to be able to spend the holidays with their families. We join Governor Cuomo in wishing you a safe and happy holiday season.”
Travelers are encouraged to use 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 will 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.
The Thruway Authority encourages motorists to download its mobile app which is available to download for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides motorists direct access to real-time traffic and navigation assistance while on the go. Motorists can also sign up for TRANSalert e-mails which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway here.
Bicycle/Pedestrian Path
TZC will continue to install rebar, pour concrete and strip forms on the northern side of the westbound span for the bridge’s shared-use bicycle/pedestrian path, barrier and overlooks.
At the Westchester Landing, foundation construction continues. Operations include forming retaining walls, rebar installation and pouring concrete.
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. Crews have begun drilling and installing piles at Elizabeth Place Park for construction of a highway noise barrier.
Additional work includes:
- Excavation, grading, fence installation and pouring concrete near bridge landings
- Barrier forming, internal tower work, electronic equipment installation and testing
- Dismantling of the old bridge’s pile caps, piles and caissons
- Fence installation and 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.
