Topic: Tappan Zee Bridge Replacement? (Read 11850 times)

Ian · « **on:** April 16, 2009, 09:29:34 PM »

I read in the Wikipedia aritcle for the Tappen Zee Bridge (I-87/I-287) and I read that it was going to be replaced with a new 8 lane bridge with a possible trasit line accross it!! Anyone heard of this because its my first time hearing it??!!

-i

Hellfighter · « **Reply #1 on:** April 16, 2009, 10:19:55 PM »

That would be pretty cool, I-87 and a Acela Line crossing the Hudson.

Ian · « **Reply #2 on:** April 16, 2009, 10:21:46 PM »

Though I don't really want it to be replaced. I love that bridge. I cross it like 8 times a year. Its a cool bridge!

Steve · « **Reply #3 on:** April 16, 2009, 11:00:42 PM »

If you like it so much, go back in time, because it's falling down. It's from an era when bridges were built to last 40 years, when we thought we finally knew what we were doing. Contrast with the GWB, where we vastly overbuilt it for what it had to do and as a result it's still around with an extra level.

yanksfan6129 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 16, 2009, 11:07:42 PM »

. . . and the GWB is not falling apart!

Yeah, this is a bridge that desperately needs to be replaced. And finally extending a rail line into Rockland County could perhaps ease some congestion a little bit, b/c now everyone commuting to New York from Rockland County crosses that bridge in the morning (although I guess some take the PIP down to the GWB).

I think that Rockland needs a rail line, and it would make sense to include such a rail line with a new Tappan Zee Bridge.

Chris · « **Reply #5 on:** April 17, 2009, 04:37:46 AM »

Do people in Rockland County all commute all the way to New York City? Seems like quite a commuting distance to me...

yanksfan6129 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 17, 2009, 11:01:00 AM »

Chris, it's really not that bad.

Chris · « **Reply #7 on:** April 17, 2009, 01:27:40 PM »

Well, New City to Midtown Manhattan is like 40 miles if you want to avoid the GW Bridge. But maybe I'm too used to my own 1.5 mile commute

I used to commute 6 miles, which took me half an hour by car.

yanksfan6129 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 17, 2009, 03:05:10 PM »

commutes of an hour are common here.

mightyace · « **Reply #9 on:** April 20, 2009, 01:53:35 PM »

There are people in the Poconos that commute to New York!

There is talk of extending commuter rail all the way to Scranton.

There is an existing line that runs from Port Jervis, NY.

The Port Jervis commute or coming from Monatauk Pt. on Long Island is a 2 hour commute.

Michael · « **Reply #10 on:** April 22, 2009, 12:15:05 PM »

See my post in the "Bridges You Would Like To See" thread for information about the possible replacement bridge.

Duke87 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 22, 2009, 04:10:27 PM »

Interesting technical note about the existing Tappan Zee Bridge:

The soil on the riverbed there is very poor. So poor that, if the river wasn't there, you couldn't walk on it. You'd sink knee deep into the muck. Thus, the majority of the bridge piers are supported on piles. However, the main span (the high part) rests on hollow caissons. About a third of its weight is supported by buoyancy. If one of those caissons were to spring a leak...
...well, there is a pump system in there to deal with that, but if the leak was too big for the pumps to counter, the bridge would likely collapse.

Given that, it's no wonder they want to replace it.

Nexis4Jersey · « **Reply #12 on:** May 08, 2009, 08:47:53 PM »

I hope they don't replace it , its a beautiful bridge , I love the Colors at night, I would like to see a double Bridge built next to it, maybe 3 or 4 lanes , if the do replace it don't build a Suspension , it would look ugly , build a Cable Stayed Bridge.

vdeane · « **Reply #13 on:** May 09, 2009, 04:18:13 PM »

That's odd, I've always though of suspension as beautiful. Cable-stayed doesn't really do it for me.

Steve · « **Reply #14 on:** May 09, 2009, 10:55:30 PM »

Echo deanej - not to mention, the current bridge is ugly as sin. There are some very nice trusses out there, but this isn't one. The Mississippi River has some of the best trusses in the world, for example.

OracleUsr · « **Reply #15 on:** August 29, 2009, 12:33:42 AM »

The bridge itself isn't that pretty, but the view of the Hudson Valley from the bridge to me rivals that of the Hudson River from the GWB.

Bryant5493 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 01, 2009, 05:14:54 PM »

I was looking at History (Channel) last night, and there was a two-hour special detailing the U.S.'s deteriorating infrastructure. The show talked about the levees in Sacramento; the busting pipes in Montgomery County, Maryland; the dam in Kentucky that holds back the Cumberland River; I-64 through St. Louis; and the Tappan Zee Bridge.

I know they showed how holes in the bridge (Tappan Zee) would appear in the concrete; how the bridge had to be painted periodically, and how termites were eating away at the untreated wood foundation.

In short, wow!

Be well,

Bryant

Roadgeek Adam · « **Reply #17 on:** September 01, 2009, 05:38:56 PM »

I have a film detailing the the construction of a Cantilever bridge, which the Tappan Zee is one of. Its from the early 50s, its 28 minutes long, but I only have 23 minutes of it due to a transfer problem. It showed how a Cantliever Bridge is made and some of how the Tappan Zee was made. Looked really cool.

signalman · « **Reply #18 on:** September 02, 2009, 04:07:32 AM »

I also watched that special on the History Channel. The potential termite damage to the wooden pilings is disturbing. Pieces of the bridge deck falling into the Hudson doesn't sound too appealing either. I've only crossed the Tappan Zee once just to say I've done so, but after seeing what I saw on tv, I doubt I'd do so again.

Chris · « **Reply #19 on:** September 02, 2009, 06:02:23 AM »

Quote from: signalman on September 02, 2009, 04:07:32 AM

I also watched that special on the History Channel. The potential termite damage to the wooden pilings is disturbing. Pieces of the bridge deck falling into the Hudson doesn't sound too appealing either. I've only crossed the Tappan Zee once just to say I've done so, but after seeing what I saw on tv, I doubt I'd do so again.

A 135,000 people think otherwise by crossing the bridge every day

But yeah, it's not like there's a nearby alternative...

mightyace · « **Reply #20 on:** September 02, 2009, 12:16:22 PM »

Quote from: signalman on September 02, 2009, 04:07:32 AM

I also watched that special on the History Channel. The potential termite damage to the wooden pilings is disturbing. Pieces of the bridge deck falling into the Hudson doesn't sound too appealing either. I've only crossed the Tappan Zee once just to say I've done so, but after seeing what I saw on tv, I doubt I'd do so again.

I also watched this History Channel special. While I didn't detect any out and out lies, I think that they sensationalized the issue.

<rant>
This is one of one of many shows that while interesting, I don't think belong on the History Channel. This special should have been on the Discovery Channel, The Science Channel or something similar. Also, the reality shows, Ice Road Truckers, Pawn Stars, Extreme Trains, Ax Men, etc. belong on television but somewhere else. Then there are the speculative shows like Monster Quest and UFO Hunters.
</rant>

Michael · « **Reply #21 on:** September 02, 2009, 02:11:01 PM »

Quote from: signalman on September 02, 2009, 04:07:32 AM

I also watched that special on the History Channel. The potential termite damage to the wooden pilings is disturbing. Pieces of the bridge deck falling into the Hudson doesn't sound too appealing either. I've only crossed the Tappan Zee once just to say I've done so, but after seeing what I saw on tv, I doubt I'd do so again.

Yeah, I saw that too, but it was a while ago. The Tappan Zee is rated at 3.708 (7 is the best, 1 is the worst). See page 3 of this PDF.

The special was called "The Crumbling of America". Another bridge covered was even worse than the Tappan Zee. The Dover Bridge in Idaho received a sufficiency rating of 2 out of 100.

The special is on again on Saturday, September 21^st at 5:00 pm. Click here for the show website.

mightyace · « **Reply #22 on:** September 02, 2009, 02:15:59 PM »

Quote from: Michael on September 02, 2009, 02:11:01 PM

The Tappan Zee is rated at 3.708 (7 is the best, 1 is the worst). See page 3 of this PDF.

The special was called "The Crumbling of America". Another bridge covered was even worse than the Tappan Zee. The Dover Bridge in Idaho received a sufficiency rating of 2 out of 100.

If states/highway authorities want to get more support for toll facilities, they need to get this information out to the public. That, and close unsafe bridges rather than keeping them open and hoping nothing happens. Or, if you close the XYZ bridge, it might be easier to get tolls on the XYZ's replacement.

signalman · « **Reply #23 on:** September 02, 2009, 04:24:48 PM »

True, there isn't a close alternative. But fortunately my travels never take me up that way much. I do agree with you, mightyace that I'm sure it was dramatized to some extent. Regardless, it's in need of replacement. The bridge in Dover, ID was indeed in worse shape, but that does have a replacement in the works according to the documentary.

Terry Shea · « **Reply #24 on:** September 02, 2009, 04:37:35 PM »

Quote from: mightyace on September 02, 2009, 12:16:22 PM

I also watched this History Channel special. While I didn't detect any out and out lies, I think that they sensationalized the issue.

That's typical for The History Channel. Just because they have the name "The History Channel" doesn't necessarily mean that all their information is factual and/or historically accurate. Have you ever noticed that on every story from the Bible that they analyze, they have the same panel of 4 or 5 "Biblical experts" that (eventually) contradict the stories?

My favorite was the program they aired about Noah's Ark. They concluded that there was a flood but it wasn't world wide, there weren't any animals on board and Noah and his family were able to survive because he had a brewery on board and they survived by drinking beer!

Sorry about getting off subject. I'm not trying to derail the thread, but I thought this ws rather amusing.

News:

Author Topic: Tappan Zee Bridge Replacement? (Read 11850 times)