Paving operations on the northbound New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) in the area of exit 9 in Tarrytown will require the closure of three lanes during the overnight of Tuesday, Dec. 9. Two lanes will be taken out of service at 8 p.m., followed by a third lane at 10:30 p.m. One lane will remain open at all times. The three closed lanes will reopen at 4:30 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10.
The work also will require the closure of the northbound exit 9 on-ramp from 10 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 9 to 4:30 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10. Motorists who would normally use the ramp to access the northbound Thruway will be detoured approximately 1.5 miles east on Route 119/White Plains Road to exit 8A in Elmsford (see detour map below):
Triple-Lane Closure on Northbound Thruway During Overnight of Friday, Dec. 12
During the overnight of Friday, Dec. 12, three lanes of the northbound Thruway will be closed to accommodate restriping (i.e., applying lane markers) and a minor shifting of lanes. Two lanes will be closed at 10 p.m., followed by a third lane at 12 midnight. One lane will remain open at all times. The three closed lanes will reopen at 6 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 13. The closures, which were planned for this week but delayed due to inclement weather, will extend four miles between exit 9 in Tarrytown and exit 10 in Nyack.
The operation also will require the closure of the exit 10 off-ramp from the northbound lanes from 10 p.m., Friday, Dec. 12 to 5 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 13. 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
Following the removal of sections of deck of the existing Tappan Zee Bridge that were permanently retired to make way for the new bridge, the supporting piers will be demolished. The majority of this work, which will clear the path for the northbound bridge’s landing and first foundation pier, will be completed during daytime hours, though periodic night-time work is anticipated, which will be announced in advance.
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.
