Posted on 12/20/2012 10:26:00 AM PST by 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 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.
Hmm... Did I miss something?
;-)

Can I play with it now? Huh, can I?
That model is nowhere near realistic. Realism would show 142 “construction workers” standing around while three are running equipment.
LOL! Good catch!
“...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.....”
Bull Obama. NY is a corrupt liberal state.
Should read, “...plan which offers kickbacks to the Obamadork, New York Liberal politicians, their cohart felons, and unions, a totally incalculable construction time, much dredging for additional bucks, and may be able to accommodate a car or two within the next twenty years...”
(R) means he’s on the right side of the picture...silly!
If this bridge ever gets built, I bet the cost will be more like 10-15 billion dollars.
I would PERSONALLY carry a man to the moon for a third of that.
“Big Dig” Redux
You are forgetting the government rule of 10: “Anything the government does will end up costing 10 times as much as projected”
of course, I’d say a billion over budget and a year behind schedule minimum.
Uuuuuuuugly.
The S.O.P. is ‘bid cheap and kill them on the extras.’
Oh well. There goes the idea of a rail crossing into Rockland County, which actually dates back to when the New York & Erie Railroad first built into Piermont with an eye to crossing the Hudson at that location one day. Would have been nice to have seen a revitalization of the old Erie RR Piermont branch, as well as a possible direct link from the Port Jervis line into Grand Central (and for freight trains into the Bronx and Queens), but that is what happens when you let government step all over things.
Adam Lanzas weapons (Barf alert!) Post
Shoot down the NRA - Outrage over the Newtown massacre has gun nuts playing defense (megahurl!) Daily News
FReepmail me if you want on or off my New York ping list.
Must be the guy to the left was even more of a lefty.
Such a bid should be immediately disqualified.
The classic offer from a reputable consultant is: "Fast production, Cheap production, Quality production -- pick any two".
You cannot have it all. Something has to give. If someone says they can give you everything you want, then they are lying, and they are knowingly expecting to screw you later.
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.
So, will it made pre-fab in China and shipped to NYC for installation?
“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.
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.
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.
It's the New York Way.
It's the New York Way.
Thanks for the ping!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.