Three 20-minute closures of all northbound lanes of the New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) near exit 9 (Tarrytown – Sleepy Hollow – US Route 9) will occur during the overnight of Friday, Nov. 14 to allow the removal of a sign gantry that extends over the northbound Thruway. The complete closures will take place between 11:59 p.m., Friday, Nov. 14 and 4 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 15.
To ensure the safety of the public, New York State Police will stop and hold all traffic approaching the gantry removal operation immediately before the closures go into effect. Motorists will be permitted to enter the Thruway from all open ramps during the closures. Travelers are advised that delays are likely on the northbound Thruway during the overnight operation.
Additionally, the gantry removal will leave just one travel lane open from 11:59 p.m., Friday, November 14 to 6 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 15, and that single lane will be subject to closure as detailed above. The gantry will also entail the closure of the exit 9 on-ramp from 9 p.m., Friday, Nov. 14 to 6 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 15. 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):
Continued Demolition of Westchester Landing of Existing Tappan Zee Bridge
A small section of the existing Tappan Zee Bridge’s Westchester landing will be removed during overnight hours next week to make room for the new bridge. The work will require the closure of the northbound Thruway’s two right traffic lanes approaching the bridge at varying times during the following overnights:
| START | CLOSURE | END |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 10 | Northbound two right lanes approaching the bridge | 4:15 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 11 |
| 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 12 | Northbound two right lanes approaching the bridge | 4:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 13 |
| 9 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 13 | Northbound two right lanes approaching the bridge | 4:30 a.m., Friday, Nov. 14 |
| 10 p.m., Friday, Nov. 14 | Northbound two right lanes approaching the bridge | 8 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 15 |
| 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 15 | Northbound two right lanes approaching the bridge | 9 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 16 |
The demolition is required to allow Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) to construct the abutment and the first foundation pier for the new northbound bridge, which is due to be completed late 2016.
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 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.
