ICONIC NEW YORK BRIDGE OPENS TO TRAFFIC

12.09.2018

A new landmark bridge, the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge in New York, was officially inaugurated this past weekend, ready to serve an anticipated 140,000 motorists per day.

The Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge in New York has opened on time and budget for an anticipated 140,000 motorists each day. The bridge is one of the largest single design-build contracts for a transportation project in the United States.

Don Bergman, COWI's Vice President of Major Projects in North America and the Engineer-of-Record for the new cable-stayed span, attended the inauguration ceremony last week and commented:

"This is a huge milestone, not just for the project team, but for COWI overall. As a company we take great pride in our contribution to the development of innovative infrastructure solutions to connect sustainable communities."

"Our experience in design-build delivery was a very real asset on this complex project. Our expertise and innovation in concrete durability and service life design has resulted in a structure we expect to stand the test of time. I am very proud of our team and their work on this landmark project."

Saved 18 months over original estimates

Design-build delivery methods typically result in reduced risks, construction timelines and costs, without compromising structural performance.

On this project, the design-build delivery method saved 18 months over the original state and federal project estimates.

The $3.98 billion USD, 5 km (3.1 mile) long, twin-span cable-stayed bridge will serve 140,000 vehicles each day between Rockland and Westchester counties.

It has eight traffic lanes, four breakdown/emergency lanes, a bike and pedestrian path, and dedicated bus lanes, all separated on east and west bound structures supported on common foundations. It was also designed to accommodate mass-transit rail loading in the future.

Replacing an unsafe and overcapacity structure

The former Tappan Zee Bridge opened in 1955, crossing the Hudson River approximately 40 km (25 miles) upstream of New York City and providing a vital artery for daily commuters and businesses. However, the bridge was carrying far more traffic than it was designed for; timber pile foundations were deteriorating, and maintenance and rehabilitation costs were escalating.

The structure had become functionally obsolete and a sustainable, durable, safe and cost-effective replacement was critically important to keep traffic moving.

This new bridge is an important investment and critical asset for the New York State Thruway Authority and all of the bridge’s daily users.

The design-build team of Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC., was comprised of a consortium of design, engineering, and construction firms, including Fluor, American Bridge, Granite Construction, Traylor Bros., HDR, COWI, URS, and GZA.