USA: Dredging for the New Tappan Zee Bridge Restarts Next Month

Posted 7/30/2015

Dredging of the Hudson River for the new Tappan Zee Bridge will resume next month near Westchester.

The dredging project, costing $3.9 billion, will remove nearly 200,000 cubic yards of sand and silt south of the existing bridge to create a flotation channel for the largest crane on the bridge replacement project beginning on or about Aug. 6 and end no later than Oct. 31. Once the construction started, the work will last 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Aimed at protecting environment and avoiding the main season for spawning and fish migration, specifically for endangered Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon in the river, the U.S. Coast Guard warned boaters that two dredgers, barges and a plant will be working near Westchester. Meanwhile, water quality monitoring, using closed clam-shell dredge buckets and having federally-approved sturgeon observers on site around the clock will strengthen.

All of the dredged material will be solidified, stabilized and disposed of at various sites in New Jersey.

The first of the new two spans is scheduled to open to traffic in December 2016, with the second following the next year.

Photo: Nrbelex