Crumbling concrete of Ambassador Bridge worries pedestrians, motorists
The Tappan Zee Bridge, is a cantilever bridge in the U.S. state of New York, crossing the Hudson River at one of its widest points. As an integral conduit within the New York Metropolitan Area, it connects South Nyack in Rockland County with Tarrytown in Westchester County in the Lower Hudson Valley.
The bridge is part of the New York State Thruway mainline and is also designated as Interstate 87 and Interstate 287. The span carries seven lanes of motor traffic.
About 140,000 vehicles cross the 3.1-mile Tappan Zee Bridge every day, with volumes as high as 170,000 during peak traffic.
If nothing is done to relieve congestion in the I-287 Corridor between Suffern and Port Chester, by 2030 traffic crossing the bridge will increase to about 200,000 cars per day.
The bridge does not meet current seismic criteria. It also does not have shoulders to accommodate emergency vehicles and breakdowns.
n 1955, the Tappan Zee Bridge was built during a period of material shortages with a 50-year life span. Although it was designed to handle a maximum capacity of 80,000 cars, the structure far exceeds the recommended limit with an average of 140,000 vehicles per day. Now seven years past its intended life cycle, the Tappan Zee Bridge is functionally obsolete and no longer able to safely meet traffic demands. Not only with the new design remedy the bridge’s lack of a shoulder and narrow lanes (widths failed to meet interstate standards), it will also include dedicated emergency lanes.
I believe there is a case for Federal support for strengthening this bridge since it is an important gateway to and from NJ, NY and CT.
“I believe there is a case for Federal support for strengthening this bridge”
It is all commuter/local traffic — New York’s responsibility. This is true for all of the bridges in the NYC area — only a tiny percentage of the traffic is interstate.
The Federal government should put in a highway that bypasses NYC’s local traffic, a “wormhole” that connects central NJ to central CT, and has no exits near NYC.
I think the pilings of the Tappan Zee are made out of wood. Seriously. Yes, it’s way past it’s expiration date.
I believe the logic NY used in constructing the bridge at one of the widest points of the river illustrates why they SHOULDN’T receive any federal aid; they picked a wider part of the river because they would have to share the revenue with NJ if they built it in a logical spot (like the George Washington Bridge). They wanted a “New York” bridge, they got it; I (as a NJ resident) shouldn’t get the bill. If they had built it right they could make the case for “interstate commerce”.
Charge a $1.00 toll per trip and you will raise $140,000 each day and over $50,000,000 each year. That would help a bit toward the new construction. Those who don't like the toll can find another way across the Hudson.