Demolition plans move forward for Tappan Zee bridge

Tappan Zee Constructors, the New York City-based consortium of contractors working on New York City’s Tappan Zee bridge’s demolition and Gov. Mario M. Cuomo bridge’s construction, will continue with original demolition plans after fears that the old bridge would collapse, a report by Lohud.com says. Hydraulic jacks will lower what’s left of the Westchester side of the bridge’s main span onto a barge in October, then the Rockland side later this year.

The two sides of the main span and some concrete columns are all that remain of the old bridge above water. Work to remove parts below the water will go on well into the next year, the report says.

The Thruway Authority, the New York state agency in charge of the 570-mile superhighway crossing the state, had to cancel the operation to split Westchester-bound traffic onto the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo bridge’s second span Sept. 7 because of concerns that the remains of the old Tappan Zee bridge could collapse.

According to a separate Lohud.com report, workers dismantling the old bridge’s main span heard a loud pop late in the afternoon Sept. 7. The sound was determined to be a joint breaking loose. Sometime after 8 p.m., Tappan Zee Constructors called the traffic shift off.

The structure was deemed safe by engineers from Tappan Zee Constructors and others flown in for examinations, the report says. The traffic shift occurred the night of Sept. 11 into the morning of Sept. 12 instead.

There has been no further indication the old bridge will collapse, the report says.