Gov. Andrew Cuomo this afternoon brushed aside any concerns that the environmental group Riverkeeper plans to sue to halt the construction of a replacement for the Tappan Zee Bridge.

Cuomo told reporters in a question-and-answer session that the debate over the project has to end. The news conference was held to announce that a key vote to move the estimated $5.2 billion project was approved and that the state was seeking all available funds from a $1.7 billion pool of money.

“This is a project that has been discussed for over 13 years,” Cuomo said. ”Enough is enough. At one point you have to stop consulting and stop talking and getting something done and we’re at that point with this bridge.”

The annonucement today came after Cuomo stepped up the pressure on both local organizations and elected officials in backing the plan to build a new bridge. He put his top aide, Secretary Larry Schwartz, in charge of coordinating the project. Schwartz is a former deputy county executive in Westchester. Brian Conybeare, a longtime local cable TV anchor, was recruited to be the public face of the project.

And then the governor rolled out a series of local officials endorsing the plan, including former Gov. George Pataki, all in an effort designed to squeeze county executives in the area to go along.

Now Cuomo says it’s about moving forward — a theme he’s used many times to describe his dislike for the inertia of state government.

“It’s time to actually geting something done,” Cuomo said. ”This is a dangerous situation. This is an expensive situation. It’s time to build a new bridge.”

Riverkeeper raised concerns over the weekend that the vote by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council was announced at the last minute.

Riverkeeper was founded by Robert Kennedy Jr., the governor’s ex-brother-in-law.

 

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