Next week, the new bridge’s towers will continue rising toward their ultimate height of 419 feet, thanks to self-climbing jump forms. The state-of-the-art forms enable Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) workers to build the towers in segments that progressively “jump” up from the foundations to their full height. Within the jump forms, workers assemble steel reinforcement cages that are then encased in concrete, one segment atop the previous one and so on. Eight towers will be constructed on the project’s football-field-long main span pile caps over the coming year, as seen in this animation.
Structural Steel Installation
In preparation for the placement of the new bridge’s westernmost steel girders over River Road in South Nyack, TZC will reduce River Road to one lane between 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday of next week. Flag persons will keep traffic moving by alternating the directional flow between north and south.
The installation of girders over the river will continue next week and beyond. Smaller girder sections will be lifted into place by cranes from the Rockland trestle near the South Nyack shoreline. Ironworkers then bolt together the steel-blue girders and cross beams that support the new bridge’s concrete road deck. 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 project’s temporary all-electronic toll collection system in Rockland County is continuing with the installation of roadway sensors during the week of Sept. 14.
Specific lane and ramp closure times are listed in the chart below.
| DATE: | CLOSURES BEGIN: | CLOSURES END: | LOCATION: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., 9/11 | 8 p.m. – One right lane 9 p.m. – Two right lanes |
6 a.m., Sat., 9/12 | Southbound from exits 12 to 10 |
| Mon., 9/14 | 8 p.m. – One right lane 9 p.m. – Two right lanes |
6 a.m., Tue., 9/15 | Southbound from exits 12 to 10 |
| Tue., 9/15 | 8 p.m. – One right lane 9 p.m. – Two right lanes |
6 a.m., Wed., 9/16 | Southbound from exits 12 to 10 |
| Wed., 9/16 | 8 p.m. – One right lane 9 p.m. – Two right lanes |
6 a.m., Thu., 9/17 | Southbound from exits 12 to 10 |
| Thu., 9/17 | 9 p.m. – One right lane 10 p.m. – Two right lanes |
6 a.m., Fri, 9/18 | Southbound from exits 12 to 10 |
| Fri., 9/18 | 8 p.m. – One right lane 9 p.m. – Two right lanes |
6 a.m., Sat., 9/19 | Southbound from exits 12 to 10> |
Dredging Operations
TZC will continue the second stage of dredging operations near the Westchester shoreline next week as part of the preparation for removing the existing bridge and completing the landing of the new southern span. Dredging is allowed during a three-month period from August 1 to October 31 in specified locations and will be conducted 24/7 to complete the required dredging during the short window of time. The window was established to avoid impacting migration and spawning patterns of endangered sturgeon and other fish species.
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 in South Nyack. The work involves 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.
Additional work includes:
- Landing abutment concrete work
- Support for river-based work from the Rockland trestle
- Survey inspections on the existing bridge
- Westchester landings utility work
Boater Safety
Westchester and Rockland Marine Units are continuing extensive patrols to monitor the construction zone and encourage all boaters to obey the established U.S. Coast Guard safety protocols.
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 visit https://www.thruway.ny.gov/travelers/map/ for real-time information regarding traffic conditions.
