Everything about Tappan Zee Bridge totally explained
The
Governor Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge, almost always referred to as the
Tappan Zee Bridge or simply the
Tappan Zee, is a
cantilever bridge in
New York over the
Hudson River at its widest point, the
Tappan Zee, named for a
Native American tribe from the area called the "Tappan" ("Zee" being the
Dutch word for "sea"). It connects
Nyack in
Rockland County with
Tarrytown in
Westchester County. Construction started in March
1952 and it was opened for traffic on
December 15,
1955. The total length of the bridge and approaches is 16,013
feet (just over 3
miles, 4.881
km). The cantilever span is 1212 feet (369.42
meters) providing a 138-foot (42-meter) clearance over the water. The bridge is located about 25 miles north of
Midtown Manhattan and the Manhattan skyline can easily been seen from the bridge on a clear day.
The bridge is part of the
New York State Thruway mainline, and also designated as
Interstate 87 and
Interstate 287. The span carries seven lanes of automotive traffic, with the center lane being switchable between eastbound and westbound traffic depending on the prevalent commuter direction. On weekdays, the center lane is eastbound in the morning and westbound in the evening. This is accomplished via a
movable center
barrier that's moved by a pair of
barrier transfer machines, though traffic along
I-87/
I-287 is frequently very slow across the bridge, often highlighted on rush-hour traffic reports.
As of January 2008, eastbound passenger car traffic is subject to a toll of $4.50 cash, or via
E-ZPass at a discounted price of $4.05.
In
1994, the name of
Malcolm Wilson, a former
Governor of New York was added to the bridge's name, though it's almost never used when the bridge is spoken about colloquially.
Replacement
The deteriorating structure, combined with concern of over-usage by increased traffic over the bridge has led to plans to repair the bridge or replace it with a
tunnel or a new bridge
(External Link
). These plans and discussions have been whittled down to 6 options and are currently in the environmental review stage. Part of the justification for the replacement or restoration of the bridge has been that the materials used to construct it were relatively deficient due to material shortages during the Korean War. Statements that the bridge was constructed with a 50 year lifespan in mind, however, have not been substantiated.
(External Link)
The collapse of the
I-35W Mississippi River bridge in Minnesota on August 1, 2007 has renewed concerns about the structural integrity of the Tappan Zee Bridge.
(External Link)
The
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is studying the feasibility of either including a rail line across the new bridge or building the new bridge so a new rail line can be installed at a future date. The rail line, if built, will be located on a lower level, beneath the car lanes. Commuter rail service west of the bridge in
Rockland County, New York is limited, and the MTA is studying expansion possibilities in Rockland County utilizing the new bridge to connect with the
Hudson Line (Metro-North) on the east side of the bridge along the
Hudson River for direct service into Manhattan.
Suicide prevention
According to the
New York State Thruway Authority, between 1998 and 2008 more than 25 people committed suicide on the Tappan Zee Bridge. By adding four new phones, two each on the
Rockland and
Westchester sides, they hope to diminish this number. The phones, which were put into service on August 31, 2007, provide direct links to the
Lifeline suicide prevention hotline, which connect callers to counselors at LifeNet or
Covenant House. A sign reading "Life is Worth Living" has been placed on the right railing of the southbound side of the bridge.
In popular culture
- In a song in Maurice Sendak's animated film and stage production Really Rosie, the title character claims she'll "tap across the Tappan Zee."
- The song "Little Red Light" by Fountains of Wayne is about sitting in a traffic jam on the bridge.
- The bridge can be seen out of the train windows during the dinner scene between Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint on the train in North by Northwest.
- The Tappan Zee Bridge appears in the film Unfaithful in the background during the commuter train station scenes along the Hudson. Also, Diane Lane drives across it when she makes a last-minute turn at the sign for New York City.
- Bob James recorded a track called "Tappan Zee" on his 1977 album Four.
- Old 97's mention the bridge in the song "Ride".
Further Information
Get more info on 'Tappan Zee Bridge'.
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