New York unveils plan for new Tappan Zee Bridge

The proposals for the bridge and the I-287 highway corridor were announced on Friday by leaders of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the State Thruway Authority and Metropolitan Transportation Authority Metro-North Railroad (MNR), together with officials from Westchester County and Rockland County.

The existing bridge has a total length of 4.9km and a main cantilver span of 370m. It was built according to prevailing standards in the early 1950s and, while safe, does not meet current national standards and some of its deficiencies cannot be addressed.

The proposal, which came from a study team working for the three transport agencies, calls for a complete replacement of the existing bridge and the construction of a 48km bus rapid transit system. It also recommends provision for a future commuter rail transit system.

Full implementation of the project team's proposal has been given preliminary cost estimates of: U$6.4 billion for a new bridge accepting bus rapid transit and commuter rail transit; U$2.9 billion for bus rapid transit and highway improvements; and $6.7 billion for the future commuter rail transit.

The project team is made up of NYSDOT, MNR and the Thruway Authority and is led by NYSDOT. Project staff will be hosting public information meetings in late October and will then move forward with the environmental study, while at the same time developing a comprehensive plan and innovative ways to finance the project. NYSDOT is finalising a contract for a financial advisor to develop funding options.

The announcement was accompanied by the release of two in-depth studies, covering the analysis of rehabilitation or replacement of the bridge and the transit modes. Bridge replacement options feature single- or dual-level bridge designs.

The draft environmental impact statement is scheduled to be completed by late 2009, with the final version following early in 2010. The work will evaluate various ways to implement the plan, including alternative bridge designs. The preferred alternative will be identified in 2010.