Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Senator Chuck Fuschillo, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee last week joined Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino on a fact-finding tour of the Tappan Zee Bridge to discuss plans for its rebuilding.
The bridge, connecting Westchester and Rockland Counties, services as many as 170,000 vehicles per day, equal to 22 percent of Hudson River crossings—far more than either the Lincoln or Holland Tunnels. Over the past decade, the New York State Thruway Authority has spent $1 billion in repairs and $300 million to replace the bridge's deck, as well as $83 million on studies."
"The time has come to make the rebuilding of the Tappan Zee Bridge a priority," said Astorino, repeating his call for action made last month. "If the bridge were to close for any reason, the economic consequences would be devastating for the region, state and country. The governor controls the levers of government to move this vital project forward and I am asking him to act now."
"We stand ready to work with Governor Cuomo on this critical capital infrastructure project," said Senate Majority Leader Skelos. "The Tappan Zee Bridge is a major transportation artery for commercial and residential travel, yet today's traffic far exceeds the structure's capacity. We look forward to working with our local government partners to move forward on the rebuilding plan."
Said Fuschillo, "We have an infrastructure crisis in the United States and there will be dangerous consequences if government does not make the necessary investments in the structures that keep society functioning properly. If the Tappan Zee Bridge were to be shut down tomorrow, it would have devastating consequences for commerce and traffic patterns. We cannot afford to wait for a disaster to commence the rebuilding process."
The proposed cost of the bridge's rebuilding is estimated at $9 billion and an additional $6 billion is required for the inclusion of a high-speed rail system. The scoping process began in December 2002 and was completed in May 2009, with planning costs totaling $83 million to date.