BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION: Crews making progress on Tappan Zee Bridge project
Sept. 13, 2016
Chief engineer says project is on budget, on schedule
Construction of the new Tappan Zee Bridge remains on budget and on schedule after three years, according to the New York State Thruway Authority’s chief engineer for the $3.9 billion project.
Jamey Barbas, the engineer, said 15 more of the 192 cable stays that will support the decks of the twin spans have been strung between the still-ascending 419-ft towers and the roadways since the first one was installed in July.
The eight signature towers are approaching 400 ft tall and the remaining blue steel girders that underpin the deck will be placed in the coming weeks. Some 2,500 of the 7,000-plus deck panels have been installed.
Construction of the north- or west-bound span, which will open next year, is more advanced than on the south- or east-bound one, which will be completed in 2018. The old TZB has to be demolished before the south span can be finished.
