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The Governor Malcolm Wilson
Tappan Zee Bridge
One of the largest bridges in the
United States, the three-mile-long Governor Malcolm
Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge carries the New York Thruway's
mainline across the historic Tappan Zee Section of
the Hudson River, about
13 miles north of New York City.
The Tappan Zee Bridge was
opened on December 15, 1955. First test borings
were sunk in June 1951 and actual construction
began in March 1952.
The structure and approaches
cost approximately $80.8 million.
An Act approved by the Legislature
and signed by the Governor on February 28,
1956, officially named the structure the “Tappan
Zee Bridge.” In pre-colonial days, this
area was the home of the Tappan tribe of Indians; “zee” (sea)
is the Dutch name for open expanse of water.
In 1994, the bridge was rededicated as the
Governor Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge in
honor of the former New York Governor.
From economic and engineering
viewpoints, the bridge is the key structure
on the 641-mile cross-state Thruway System.
The bridge connects two important parts of
the Empire State - Westchester and Rockland
counties - which previously were linked only
by ferry.
Over 136,000 vehicles cross
the 3.1-mile Tappan Zee Bridge every day, with
volumes as high as 171,000 vehicles daily.
When the bridge opened in 1955, it carried
an average of 18,000 vehicles daily.
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The Falcon Program
Since the late 1980s, the Thruway
Authority has had 2 falcon nesting boxes on the Tappan
Zee Bridge. The boxes are located high up on the main
truss and provide the falcons with commanding views
of the Hudson River.
The Bridge and the falcons
have a symbiotic relationship. The bridge
provides the falcons with a high perch, while
the falcons are very effective at keeping
pigeons away from the bridge. Pigeon droppings
are detrimental to the paint, and consequently,
the steel on the Bridge. There used to be
a high number of pigeons roosting on the
Bridge, but since the falcons arrived, they
are hard to find!
The Authority also has
nesting boxes on three other major bridges:
the 1-mile long Castleton Bridge spanning
the Hudson River south of Albany; and the
North Grand Island Bridges which span the
Niagara River near Niagara Falls. The boxes
vary in size (approximately 24" x 32" x
24"),
and are made of wood. A few inches of pea
gravel is provided in the bottom of the box
along with drain holes. In order to enable
young falcons to exercise their wings without
being accidentally pushed out of the box,
the boxes are either oversized, or an Astroturf
covered perch is provided in front of the
box.
The Peregrine Falcon is
considered one of the world’s fastest
animals. Peregrine Falcons hunt other birds
by diving after them and can exceed speeds
of 200mph during these dives. Peregrines
grow 15 to 20 inches in length, with females
typically one-third larger than males. Females
typically lay two to four eggs per year,
which they incubate while the male hunts
for food. The chicks hatch after about 35
days, and then both parents hunt for food
for the young. Chicks leave the nest four
to five weeks after hatching. Thruway maintenance
personnel schedule their work so that they
are not near the boxes during the Spring
nesting period.
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Toll Operations
A round-trip toll on the TZB is collected from eastbound
(south) traffic, while no toll is collected from
westbound (north) traffic. This collection system
speeds the flow of traffic and improves service to
motorists. The cash toll is $4.50 for passenger cars;
the toll varies for commercial traffic as it is based
upon vehicle size and time of travel.
As of November 2007, approximately 74 percent of all toll transactions
processed on the TZB utilize E-ZPass.
During the commuter hours of 6 a.m. - 10 a.m., E-ZPass
accounts for approximately 86 percent of toll transactions per hour at the Tappan Zee Bridge.
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Maintenance Operations
A 69-member crew, headed by a professional Engineer,
performs daily work necessary for inspection and preventive
maintenance (including painting) of the bridge. The
Thruway's only "navy" includes two tugboats, two
workboats and four barges.
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Emergency Service
The Thruway Authority furnishes its own personnel and equipment to handle emergency breakdowns of vehicles crossing the bridge, as well as small vehicle fires.
Disabled vehicles are towed to special parking areas on either side of the bridge.
A staff of around 10 tow truck operators work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Three tow trucks and a flat bed truck are in service on the bridge.
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