Next week, Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) will begin the installation of four precast concrete crossbeams that will connect the new bridge’s main span towers and support its future road deck. The crossbeams were fabricated by Coastal Precast Systems in Chesapeake, Virginia, and barged to the project site last week. The precast materials will be set in place with the I Lift NY super crane, one of the few marine cranes in the world capable of the massive job.
Demolition of Thruway Maintenance Facility
TZC will begin demolition of the New York State Thruway Authority’s former maintenance offices in Tarrytown. Bridge maintenance teams currently operate from a temporary facility near exit 12 in West Nyack. The demolition will make way for a new maintenance facility and office building, which will begin construction this spring.
All-Electronic Toll Collection Gantry Work
Field testing of the project’s temporary all-electronic toll collection (AETC) system in Rockland will continue throughout the coming week near the exit 10 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W) and exit 11 (Nyack – South Nyack – US Route 9W) on-ramps to the southbound New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287).
The testing will necessitate closing the on-ramps during the overnights of Thursday, Feb. 4, through Friday, Feb. 12. Drivers will be directed to use the exit 12 (West Nyack – NY Route 303 – Palisades Center Drive) on-ramp from Route 303 in West Nyack, as shown in the graphic below. Signs will be posted to advise motorists of the detour route.
In addition, the work will require overnight closures of up to three lanes of the southbound Thruway throughout the remainder of this week and during the coming week. Specific lane and ramp closure times are detailed in the chart below.
The AETC system is expected to be activated this spring.
| DATE: | CLOSURES BEGIN: | CLOSURES END: | LOCATION: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., 2/4 | 8 p.m. – Two right lanes 11 p.m. – Three right lanes |
5 a.m., Fri., 2/5 | Southbound Thruway from exit 12 to exit 10 |
| Thu., 2/4 | 9 p.m. – Ramp closures | 5 a.m., Fri., 2/5 | Southbound exit 10 and 11 on-ramps |
| Fri., 2/5 | 8 p.m. – Two right lanes 12 a.m. – Three right lanes |
6 a.m., Sat., 2/6 | Southbound from exit 12 to exit 10 |
| Fri., 2/5 | 9 p.m. – Ramp closures | 6 a.m., Sat., 2/6 | Southbound exit 10 and 11 on-ramps |
| Sat., 2/6 | 9 p.m. – Two right lanes 12 a.m. – Three right lanes |
8 a.m., Sun., 2/7 | Southbound from exit 12 to exit 10 |
| Sat., 2/6 | 9 p.m. – Ramp closures | 6 a.m., Sun., 2/7 | Southbound exit 10 and 11 on-ramps |
| Sun., 2/7 | 10 p.m. – Two right lanes 1 a.m. – Three right lanes |
5 a.m., Mon., 2/8 | Southbound from exit 12 to exit 10 |
| Sun., 2/7 | 10 p.m. – Ramp closures | 5 a.m., Mon 2/8 | Southbound exit 10 and 11 on-ramps |
| Mon., 2/8 | 8 p.m. – Two right lanes 11 p.m. – Three right lanes |
5 a.m., Tue., 2/9 | Southbound from exit 12 to exit 10 |
| Mon., 2/8 | 9 p.m. – Ramp closures | 5 a.m., Tue., 2/9 | Southbound exit 10 and 11 on-ramps |
| Tue., 2/9 | 8 p.m. – Two right lanes 11 p.m. – Three right lanes |
5 a.m., Wed., 2/10 | Southbound from exit 12 to exit 10 |
| Tue., 2/9 | 9 p.m. – Ramp closures | 5 a.m., Wed., 2/10 | Southbound exit 10 and 11 on-ramps |
| Wed., 2/10 | 8 p.m. – Two right lanes 11 p.m. – Three right lanes |
5 a.m., Thu., 2/11 | Southbound from exit 12 to exit 10 |
| Wed., 2/10 | 9 p.m. – Ramp closures | 5 a.m., Thu., 2/11 | Southbound exit 10 and 11 on-ramps |
| Thu., 2/11 | 8 p.m. – Two right lanes 11 p.m. – Three right lanes |
5 a.m., Fri., 2/12 | Southbound from exit 12 to exit 10 |
| Thu., 2/11 | 9 p.m. – Ramp closures | 5 a.m., Fri., 2/12 | Southbound exit 10 and 11 on-ramps |
| Fri., 2/12 | 9 p.m. – Two right lanes 12 a.m. – Three right lanes |
6 a.m., Sat., 2/13 | Southbound from exit 12 to exit 10 |
| Fri., 2/12 | 10 p.m. – Ramp closures | 6 a.m., Sat., 2/13 | Southbound exit 10 and 11 on-ramps |
Noise Barrier Construction
TZC will continue constructing noise barriers along the Thruway in South Nyack. The operation includes constructing noise barrier foundations along the southbound Thruway between the South Broadway bridge and River Road and involves drilling holes into the soil. After the foundations are established, 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.
Construction also continues along the northbound Thruway in South Nyack as TZC begins installing foundation walls for the future highway and shared-use path starting this week. The operation is scheduled to continue in the coming months.
Additional work includes:
- Main span tower construction
- Support for river-based work from the Rockland trestle
- Rockland landing retaining walls
- Survey inspections on the existing bridge
- Westchester landings utility work
- Girder assembly placement
- Bridge road deck installation
- Drainage structure installations
Boater Safety
Marine units are continuing 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, construction site maps, can be found here at NewNYBridge.com. The page includes an interactive GPS map showing vessel locations on the Hudson River, detailing which vessels are stopped and which are in motion to a new location for recreational and commercial boaters to get current information on the very active construction zone. The vessel 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.
