The state Thruway Authority and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the publishing of the final environmental impact statement to replace the aging Tappan Zee Bridge.

The full document can be found here and a summary of the statement is attached below.

“Building this new bridge is one of our state’s the largest infrastructure projects and, as we move forward, we are making every effort to limit negative impacts on residents and the environment,” Cuomo said in a statement. “The Final Environmental Impact Statement is our comprehensive plan for protecting the local environment and the well-being of nearby communities during the construction process. From requiring extensive environmental protections to providing real-time online monitoring of construction activities, our goal is to have a responsible, effective and open process for building a new better bridge.”

The summary does include references to possible express bus services that could be used during peak hours of usage.

From the summary:

The new bridge could support the ability for express bus services to utilize the extra wide shoulders on the bridge. Use of the extra wide shoulders could occur during peak hours to reduce travel time across the bridge.

The administration is also launching a website that wil track the project’s progress, as well as noise and air pollution as a result of the construction.

In related news, Thomas Madison, the chief of the Thruway Authority, told a crowd in Westchester County last night that the old bridge will eventually be demolished, ending the possibility of potentially turning the structure into a greenway public park akin the High Line in New York City.

Feis Summary

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