After a fourth barge broke free at the new Tappan Zee Bridge construction site, officials with the New York State Thruway Authority announced plans last week to withhold up to $1 million per month in construction payments until a corrective action plan is in place.
On March 30, a Tappan Zee Constructors L.L.C. barge broke loose from its mooring south of the existing Tappan Zee Bridge and traveled about 2 miles before it was recovered.
The barge is the fourth to break free since construction began in 2013, though none produced injuries or property damage.
“Despite our repeated instructions to TZC to enhance mooring safety protocols, another barge broke loose,” said Peter Sanderson, project director for the New NY Bridge, in a press release. “This is unacceptable.”
In January, two TZC subcontractor barges drifted as far away as Spuyten Duyvil in the Bronx, and in September, another barge traveled about a mile before it was recovered.
Several safety enhancements have been adopted in response to the previous incidents. However, Thruway officials now say they”™ll withhold progress payments until a new corrective action plan is submitted and approved by project team leaders.
The announcement is one of the first, if not the first, signs of tension between state and TZC representatives. Just days earlier, officials from both groups appeared as a team in lockstep at annual public meetings in Rockland and Westchester counties.
At that time, officials reported limited hiccups and a project on schedule to be completed by 2018, despite an unusually harsh winter this year.
At the March 27 meeting at Nyack High School, project representatives said the winter was rough, but wasn”™t enough to slow construction.
More than 60 inches of snow fell this winter, more than double the normal amount. As a conservative measure, TZC had already allotted a two-month break for weather, all of which was used, said Walter Reichert, TZC vice president.
“The hope is that you won”™t need to use it,” Reichert said at the meeting. “But we did.”
A few more monthlong breaks for weather are scheduled throughout the construction period. However, Reichert said the group hopes to avoid using them.
Project representatives said moving into spring, the primary focus of construction is split into three areas: installing more than 1,000 permanent piles, up to 350 feet deep; building the two trestles in the river to support construction equipment; and finishing the various retaining walls and permanent noise barriers.
Roughly half of the 100 people at the meeting said they had heard the pile driving, to which Brian Conybeare, special adviser to the governor on the project, said there”™s no denying “it can be very loud.”
TZC is using three construction methods ”“ vibratory pile installation, noise-reducing shrouds and bubble curtains ”“ to reduce noise. Additionally, noise-reducing windows and doors have been bought for three riverfront complexes, including The Quay in Tarrytown.
Within two weeks, project officials plan to announce a program for private homeowners to buy noise-reducing windows as well. Letters should be sent out to homeowners with more details, Conybeare said.
“There”™s going to be impacts,” Conybeare said of the construction. “We”™re doing everything we can to minimize them.”
By late April or early May, the project is expected to hit one of the most anticipated milestones with the arrival of the nicknamed “I Lift NY Super Crane.”
One of the world”™s largest floating cranes, the massive piece of equipment is larger than the size of a football field and can lift 1,750 metric tons, the equivalent to 12 Statues of Liberty.
The crane arrived in the Port of New York and New Jersey on Jan. 30 after a 6,000-mile voyage from San Francisco. TZC plans to use the crane to create and install large sections of the bridge, as well as dismantle the existing bridge, saving time and money.
Just in time for the crane”™s arrival, TZC plans to build viewing platforms in Rockland and Westchester as part of the group”™s community outreach efforts.
“We know (construction) is generating a lot of interest, especially with the crane”™s arrival,” Conybeare said. “We want to make sure everyone is safe.”
In addition to the viewing platforms, six points along a pedestrian walkway will be designated as distinct seating areas where visitors can stop to view construction.
At the meeting, officials unveiled several details, such as wind and sound barriers, along the walkway to make the bridge more comfortable for pedestrians. Each of the six stopping points is designed to pay homage to the region”™s history, whether it”™s the views captured by the Hudson River School or the stars that originally guided Henry Hudson”™s ship.
“This is a stunningly designed bridge,” Conybeare said. “We are building a new bridge in New York, literally changing lanes.”
