Tappan Zee Bridge project

The US state of New York has put forward $5bn in funding to build a new Tappan Zee Bridge and allocated a further $15bn to improve infrastructure across the state.

Governor Andrew Cuomo will present the $132.5bn spending proposal to the state legislature for approval.

The state wants to replace the ageing Tappan Zee Bridge, which spans the Hudson River between Rockland and Westchester counties in New York city’s suburbs, connecting the lower Hudson Valley region with New York City. The 4.8km structure, which opened in 1955, handles 138,000 vehicles a day, but it is overcrowded and is in a state of disrepair after 56 years of use. The Federal Highway Administration (FHA) said that the bridge will soon be structurally deficient and travel restrictions might be imposed if it is not replaced.

The plan is to build a new dual-deck, 12-lane suspension bridge and causeway to replace the existing seven-lane Tappan Zee Bridge. Upon completion, the new suspension bridge is expected to cope with a projected 48% increase in traffic over the next 20 years.

Two separate four-lane spans will be built, with one eastbound, one westbound, north of the current bridge, and connecting to the riverbanks at the same locations. The sections would be separated by a 42ft gap and the new bridge would have wide shoulders, as well as including paths for cyclists and pedestrians.

Provisions for commuter rail or other mass transit will also be made on the new structure, according to a new planning document released last year by the FHA and state Department of Transportation. It New York that has spent about $100m a year on maintaining the bridge and $1.3bn will be required in the next ten years.

The FHA said that New York plans to fund about $3bn for the project and the rest would be from bonds, labour pension funds, federal loans and other sources.

The new bridge is expected to open by 2017.

 

Image: The 4.8km Tappan Zee Bridge was build in 1955 and handles 138,000 vehicles per day. Photo: Nrbelex.