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Crane Collapses on Tappan Zee Bridge, Shutting Down Traffic Crane Collapses on Tappan Zee Bridge
(35 minutes later)
A crane collapsed on the Tappan Zee Bridge in the midst of work on the bridge’s replacement on Tuesday afternoon, injuring five people and shutting down traffic in both directions, according to New York State and local authorities. A crane collapsed on the Tappan Zee Bridge in the midst of work on the bridge’s replacement on Tuesday afternoon, injuring five people and shutting down traffic for hours in both directions, according to New York State and local authorities.
The crane, one of 28 being used in the construction of the $3.9 billion replacement for the aging bridge — what is being called the largest infrastructure project in the country — fell around noon on the Rockland County side of the bridge, the authorities said.The crane, one of 28 being used in the construction of the $3.9 billion replacement for the aging bridge — what is being called the largest infrastructure project in the country — fell around noon on the Rockland County side of the bridge, the authorities said.
None of the injuries were life-threatening, said Ed Day, the Rockland County executive. Three motorists were hurt in vehicles that swerved during the crane’s fall, Mr. Day said, and two workers on the construction project were also injured.None of the injuries were life-threatening, said Ed Day, the Rockland County executive. Three motorists were hurt in vehicles that swerved during the crane’s fall, Mr. Day said, and two workers on the construction project were also injured.
No vehicles were struck by the crane, the authorities said.No vehicles were struck by the crane, the authorities said.
Aerial images showed the broken crane draped across all lanes of the bridge, which 138,000 vehicles cross every day traveling between Rockland and Westchester Counties.Aerial images showed the broken crane draped across all lanes of the bridge, which 138,000 vehicles cross every day traveling between Rockland and Westchester Counties.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, speaking at a news conference in Tarrytown, near the bridge’s base, said that it was miraculous that no one was seriously injured in the collapse. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who gave two news conferences in Tarrytown, near the bridge’s base, said that it was miraculous that no one was seriously injured in the collapse.
Officials described the work that crane was engaged in — a vibratory hammer that was putting in pilings — as routine. After a structural investigation, the bridge opened its northbound lanes, running west from Westchester to Rockland, around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. One southbound lane was to open at 7 p.m., and another scheduled to open an hour later. One lane would remain closed for repair.
Officials described the work that the crane was engaged in — a vibratory hammer that was putting in pilings — as routine.
“This was not one of the high-risk operations of bridge building,” Mr. Cuomo said.“This was not one of the high-risk operations of bridge building,” Mr. Cuomo said.
Since work began on a new Tappan Zee Bridge in 2013, there have been no deaths or serious injuries involving the workers. Mr. Cuomo said the project’s track record had been extraordinary for an undertaking of its size.Since work began on a new Tappan Zee Bridge in 2013, there have been no deaths or serious injuries involving the workers. Mr. Cuomo said the project’s track record had been extraordinary for an undertaking of its size.
“Somebody will drop a hammer,” he said. “Things happen.”“Somebody will drop a hammer,” he said. “Things happen.”
Officials said they had yet to pinpoint the cause of the crane’s crash. But they ruled out high winds.Officials said they had yet to pinpoint the cause of the crane’s crash. But they ruled out high winds.
Jeff J. Loughlin, the business manager of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 137, which represents the crane’s operator, said that the operator remained at the scene with a union representative, and was expected to undergo drug and alcohol testing.Jeff J. Loughlin, the business manager of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 137, which represents the crane’s operator, said that the operator remained at the scene with a union representative, and was expected to undergo drug and alcohol testing.
“It’s a miracle that the boom fell across six lanes of traffic, cars that are doing 60 to 70 miles an hour, and not one car was hit by the boom,” Mr. Loughlin said.“It’s a miracle that the boom fell across six lanes of traffic, cars that are doing 60 to 70 miles an hour, and not one car was hit by the boom,” Mr. Loughlin said.
The crane’s crash raised concerns about the integrity of the Tappan Zee Bridge, which was built to last only 50 years after being constructed cheaply in 1955. Rockland County officials said the crash damaged the bridge, creating a hole in its deck.The crane’s crash raised concerns about the integrity of the Tappan Zee Bridge, which was built to last only 50 years after being constructed cheaply in 1955. Rockland County officials said the crash damaged the bridge, creating a hole in its deck.
Mr. Cuomo said the bridge would remain closed for at least several hours until it was inspected structurally. The Coast Guard enforced a safety zone in the Hudson River around the bridge, it said in a news release. With the bridge blocked, many motorists were stranded for hours, some of them taking to social media to share pictures of the collapse.
With the bridge blocked, many motorists were stranded for hours, some of them taking to social media to share pictures of the collapse. Speaking around 3 p.m., Mr. Cuomo said that a majority of traffic had been cleared from the bridge.
One motorist, Atabey Sanchez, who was heading home to Providence, R.I., was stuck on the bridge for two hours. She said she was about 40 cars from where the crane collapsed.One motorist, Atabey Sanchez, who was heading home to Providence, R.I., was stuck on the bridge for two hours. She said she was about 40 cars from where the crane collapsed.
“I just saw heavy traffic, then we stopped,” she said. “Then all these emergency vehicles rushed by. We all started out nervous — what’s happening?"“I just saw heavy traffic, then we stopped,” she said. “Then all these emergency vehicles rushed by. We all started out nervous — what’s happening?"
The crane’s collapse draws new focus to the construction of the replacement for the Tappan Zee. The new bridge, which is being built to just north of the old bridge and is scheduled to be completed in 2018, has been mentioned by Mr. Cuomo as well as President Obama as an exemplary investment in infrastructure.The crane’s collapse draws new focus to the construction of the replacement for the Tappan Zee. The new bridge, which is being built to just north of the old bridge and is scheduled to be completed in 2018, has been mentioned by Mr. Cuomo as well as President Obama as an exemplary investment in infrastructure.
The collapse came after the governor chided the government for not moving fast enough on infrastructure needs and praised the process by which the construction on the new Tappan Zee had been contracted out to private companies, during an event on Monday in Brooklyn.The collapse came after the governor chided the government for not moving fast enough on infrastructure needs and praised the process by which the construction on the new Tappan Zee had been contracted out to private companies, during an event on Monday in Brooklyn.
Traffic on the New York State Thruway, which crosses the bridge, was diverted on both sides. Northbound motorists were diverted off Exit 8, while those traveling south were diverted off Exit 12.
Tuesday evening promised to be a “commuter nightmare” for people who rely on the bridge, said Veronica Vanterpool, the executive director of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, a transit advocacy group.
“This is a nightmare because not only does it stop vehicular traffic, but also all of the people who rely on bus transit to get across,” Ms. Vanterpool said. “That’s a fair amount of people because there are very few east-west connections in this part of the Hudson Valley.”
Many drivers could instead take the George Washington Bridge to the south, producing snarled traffic there, or Bear Mountain Bridge to the north.Many drivers could instead take the George Washington Bridge to the south, producing snarled traffic there, or Bear Mountain Bridge to the north.
“The traffic backup is probably the biggest problem we’re dealing with,” Mr. Cuomo said. “And you know what? Thank God that’s the biggest problem.”“The traffic backup is probably the biggest problem we’re dealing with,” Mr. Cuomo said. “And you know what? Thank God that’s the biggest problem.”