New York Chooses Builder for $3.1 Billion Tappan Zee Bridge Replacement

Transportation Nation ^ | 12/17/2012 | Kate Hinds

[neverdem]

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (R), with advisor Brian Conybeare, standing in front of a model of the new design. (Image courtesy of @NYGovCuomo)

UPDATE: It’s official: New York has awarded the contract to construct the new Tappan Zee Bridge.

In a press release, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said, “the Thruway Board has selected the Tappan Zee Constructors’ plan which offers New York toll payers the biggest bang for their buck – with the best price, shortest construction time, minimal dredging, and can accommodate mass transit in the future. This is a major milestone for a bridge project that was a metaphor for the dysfunction of government and is now a national model for progress.”

Earlier Monday, Tom Madison, the executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority, said he was supporting a $3.1 billion plan to replace the Tappan Zee Bridge.

The (presumptive) new Tappan Zee Bridge. (New York Thruway Authority)

The board unanimously approved the contract at its meeting on Monday.

The wining design was recommended by a selection committee earlier this month. At $3.1 billion, it’s the least expensive of the three design finalists; Madison pointed out that with a construction time of five years, 2.5 months, it’s also the fastest to build. It’s one of the largest contracts ever executed in New York — and it will be the first project constructed under the state’s new design-build legislation.

The winning bidder is Tappan Zee Constructors — a consortium led by Fluor Enterprises, Inc.. One of the team members is American Bridge — the company which constructed the original Tappan Zee back in 1955.

No financing plan is yet in place to construct the bridge. Cuomo reiterated Monday “the tolls on the Tappan Zee will be one of the main funding sources for that bridge.” The state is also waiting to see if the federal government will approve its request for a $2.9 billion TIFIA loan.

New York’s comptroller has to sign off on the contract.

[alancarp]

The plan for accommodating mass transit was not pictured in the article. Here it is:

[MeganC]

Let’s see...

$3.1 billion + 2% for cost over runs + another 3% for unexpected costs = $24 billion.

That’ll be about right for an honest state like New York.

[OpusatFR]

So, will it made pre-fab in China and shipped to NYC for installation?

[Soul of the South]

“If this bridge ever gets built, I bet the cost will be more like 10-15 billion dollars.’

The 4.1 mile Sunshine Skyway bridge spanning Tampa Bay cost $244 million to build between 1982 and 1987. In today’s dollars $244 million would be $494.4 million.

The new Tappan Zee bridge will be 3.1 miles long and have an estimated cost of $3.1 billion.

$3.1 billion versus $494 million in today’s dollars for a mile longer bridge in Florida. Seems like a significant premium.

[ken5050]

The mass transit folks are gonna scream bloody murder. And from a purely cost/benefit viewpoint, it makes sense to lay the tracks NOW, while the bride is being built. If they decide to add them in, say, 10 years..it will cost a minimum 20x more, plus the construction delays for years will destroy traffic.

Don't know if you know the area, but Tarrytown is gonna be a mess traffic wise.

Some 15 years ago the state spent millions to raise the bridges over the Metro North Hudson line tracks, so that then GM assembly plant in Tarrytown would be able to ship out their cars by rail. No sooner was all the work done than GM closed the plant.

[xkaydet65]

Given the stance of the Dems in NY state, Cuomo is more Rockefeller and Pataki than a modern marxist Dem. My cousin is a state assemblyman from the East End ( A Rep reelected with 67% of the vote this year) and he has a very good relationship with Cuomo. Cuomo sought out my cuz and the other 2010 newly elected Republicans for input when he took office, even though the repubs are a very minority group in the state assembly. While he wouldn’t vote for Cuomo my cousin has a respect for him that he does not possess for most NY Dems, [articularly Tim Bishop.

[hinckley buzzard]

That's because paychecks will need to be cut for thousands of ironworkers' and other thugs' Social Security numbers which will be entered into the computers. The thugs themselves of course will never be seen within miles of the site.

It's the New York Way.

[hinckley buzzard]

That's because paychecks will need to be cut for thousands of ironworkers' and other thugs' Social Security numbers which will be entered into the computers. The thugs themselves of course will never be seen within miles of the site.

It's the New York Way.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!