The New York State Thruway Authority today announced that Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) has completed installation of the first stay cables on the New NY Bridge project. The stay cables, along with the 419-foot towers, will be the most prominent features of the new 3.1-mile structure. The first two stay cables were installed by TZC on the new northbound bridge’s main span on Thursday, July 21, 2016.
“The installation of the stay cables marks a major milestone in the construction of this critical project,” said Project Director Jamey Barbas. “This bridge will serve as a vital link for generations to come, and the cables will be one of its iconic features.”
“The stay cables and the concrete towers are the perfect combination of form and function,” said Terry Towle, TZC’s chief executive officer. “In addition to providing structural integrity for the bridge’s main span, they will be a visually stunning feature that defines the project.”
The stay cables are anchored to the interior of the bridge’s concrete towers and to the sides of structural steel field sections. The resulting tension will help support the main span roadway. New structural steel sections and stay cables will be simultaneously installed on alternating sides of the towers as work continues. Precast concrete deck panels will also be placed in the erected steel sections to provide a base driving surface.
The stay cables are comprised of numerous metal strands that are tightly packed in a protective sheath. The sheaths contain only a handful of strands at first, and additional strands are strung through the cable after the initial installation process to provide further strength.
Each side of the bridge’s towers will require 12 pairs of stay cables to support the main span roadway, utilizing 700 miles of metal strands in total.
Bridge Repair Operations
Phase one of the deck repair operations on the Tappan Zee Bridge (I-87/I-287) concluded ahead of schedule at 4:30 a.m. Friday morning. Traffic has resumed on three northbound and three southbound lanes of the bridge.
Phase two, currently underway, includes replacing the far right southbound barrier and pouring concrete for the bridge deck. The operation will continue into the overnight of Friday, July 22, which will reduce the southbound portion of the bridge to one lane.
The continuing repair operations are part of the Thruway Authority’s rapid response to the damage caused by the crane collapse earlier this week. At the Governor’s direction, these expedited repairs will minimize impacts to motorists during peak travel periods.
The Thruway Authority appreciates motorists’ patience during this repair work.
Specific lane closure times are detailed in the chart below:
| DATE: | CLOSURES BEGIN: | CLOSURES END: | LOCATION: |
| Sat., 7/23 | 12 a.m. – Three right lanes | 6 a.m., Sat., 7/23 | Southbound Tappan Zee Bridge |
Maintenance Dock Construction
TZC has begun constructing a New York State Thruway Authority maintenance dock near the new bridge’s Rockland landing. The work involves partially dismantling the existing work trestle that was used to construct the northern span of the new bridge. Work will take place during daytime hours. The construction efforts are expected to conclude later this year.
Noise Barrier Construction
TZC will continue constructing noise barriers along the Thruway in South Nyack next week. The work includes constructing noise barrier foundations and excavating soil along the southbound Thruway between the South Broadway bridge and River Road. 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 in the nearby community.
TZC also will continue constructing foundation walls for the future highway and shared-use path along the northbound Thruway in South Nyack. 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
- Utility work at the Westchester landings
- Girder assembly placement
- Bridge road deck installation
- Drainage structure installation
- Maintenance facility construction in Tarrytown
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. The U.S. Coast Guard also has established a safety zone encompassing all navigable waters within a 200-yard radius of the largest machine on the project, the I Lift NY super crane, legally registered with the U.S. Coast Guard as the Left Coast Lifter.
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. The Eastern RNA will be extremely active and vessels transitioning to and from the eastern shoreline at Tarrytown should approach and depart to the north. The Western RNA will be impassable at times and mariners should stay clear of the area.
Boaters are strongly urged to use the center 600 feet of the main channel (when available) to navigate in a north-south direction with no wake at a maximum speed of five knots. Boaters should expect periodic partial closures of the main channel due to construction activities. Tune to Marine Radio Channel 22A for the latest U.S. Coast Guard advisories.
Mariners also should be aware that TZC will continue work in the vicinity of the side channels under the existing bridge. Mariners are advised to stay clear of all overhead work and maintain a safe distance of 1,000 feet from all construction equipment and support vessels. In addition, all bridge piers and abutments are protected by a 25-yard security zone.
Additional temporary navigational lights have been installed on the existing bridge 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 permit requirements, as are all moorings, barges and other equipment. All mariners should consult the latest USCG Local Notice to Mariners before transiting this area.
More New NY Bridge boater safety information, including the U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners and construction site map can be found at NewNYBridge.com/Boater. 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.
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.
