NEW YORK, NY — Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) has installed the final steel girder assembly for the new westbound span. More than 100 similar girder assemblies have been installed on the new approach spans, with many sections weighing more than 700 tons. These massive assemblies rest atop the new bridge’s concrete piers, and in turn support the new road deck. The assemblies also include infrastructure to carry communications, electrical power, water and compressed air to support bridge operations.
TZC fabricated each of these enormous assemblies at the project’s Port of Coeymans facility in Albany County. The 16-acre facility provides direct access to the Hudson River, allowing TZC to transport the girder assemblies to the project site in less than a day. The assemblies were then installed at the bridge site with the I Lift NY super crane, the only machine on the project capable of raising the massive structures.
The super crane will now perform various lifts for the eastbound bridge in Rockland. After undergoing maintenance, the super crane next year will assist with the demolition of the existing bridge and completion of the eastbound span.
Main Span Tower Progress
The new bridge’s westbound towers are reaching their ultimate height, 419 feet above the Hudson River. TZC is removing the first pair of the project’s blue jump forms this week as the towers are completed. TZC is scheduled to complete all four westbound towers within the coming weeks.
Main Span Cable Installation
TZC continues to install the new westbound span’s stay cable system. The stay cables are comprised of numerous metal strands, tightly packed in a protective sheath. After the initial installation process, TZC will install additional strands inside the sheath to provide further strength.
TZC will install new structural steel sections and stay cables on alternating sides of the towers as work continues. TZC will also place precast concrete deck panels on the erected steel sections to provide a base driving surface.
Maintenance Dock Construction
TZC will continue 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 westbound span of the new bridge. Work will take place during daytime hours and is expected to conclude later this year.
Additional work includes:
• Main span tower construction
• Support for river-based work from the Rockland trestle
• Rockland landing foundation
• Survey inspections on the existing bridge
• Utility work at the Westchester landings
• Girder assembly placement
• Bridge road deck installation
• Concrete roadway placement at bridge landings
• Drainage structure installation
• Maintenance facility construction in Tarrytown
• Soil boring in South Nyack
• Pier foundation work
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.
Periodic closures of the main navigation channel and adjacent span areas will occur due to on-going construction. Boaters are strongly encouraged to avoid the project site during these closures.
Approximately 70 closures are anticipated through the end of 2017 as project crews install new sections of structural steel and road deck panels between the towers of the new crossing. Cranes, barges and other construction equipment will occupy parts of the channel during this time.
During the closures, boaters are strongly encouraged to avoid the project site. Times and dates of the closures will appear in the U.S. Coast Guard’s weekly Notice to Mariners; on the New NY Bridge (NNYB) project’s twitter feed (@NewNYBridge); and broadcast on Marine Radio Channel 22A.
Times and dates of the channel closures are subject to change.
TZC will be monitoring the main channel during closure hours and can be contacted via Marine Radio Channel 16 for assistance. Both TZC security personnel off-site and marine units will advise incoming boaters of the closures and direct them appropriately. TZC is also in on-going communication with the commercial shipping industry about the channel closures.
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.
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.
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.