Some bridges lead to no destination, absolutely nowhere! But this is not the story with the Tappan Zee Bridge.
The beautiful bridge that wows the world suffered an accident on a recent date. The accident caused worries in the area, along with the heavy traffic in the early hours.
On 31st August 2023, at around 6:45 a.m., an accident occurred due to a hollow steel tower. The tower struck the South Broadway bridge in Orangetown, approaching the Tappan Zee Bridge, as reported by the New York police. It is said that this happened during the early hours of the day, which in turn caused hours-long standstill traffic throughout the area and bridge.
The Backstory of the Tappan Zee Bridge
The Tappan Zee Bridge is now officially known as the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. The bridge is a twin-span cable-stayed bridge that spans the Hudson River in the state of New York, USA.
It unites Rockland County on the west bank to Westchester County on the east bank. The new bridge is a substitute for the original Tappan Zee Bridge. The original one was built in the 1950s, and due to the fragile infrastructure, it was replaced by the new one.
The new Tappan Zee Bridge is standing tall against the original Tappan Zee Bridge. But, this bridge was opened in two parts. The first span was in 2017 for the passenger. The second span of traffic flow happened in 2018. Just like the old one, this bridge works on toll collection. The process of toll collecting is done by the electronic system attached.
In this process of construction and replacement, the 64-year-old Tappan Zee Bridge was demolished by dynamite charges. The explosion destroyed the supporting pillars at the end of the 672-foot section of the bridge in a matter of seconds. The entire structure came crashing down into the river below.
Along with the toll system, another notable feature of the new bridge is the addition of a separate path for pedestrians and cyclists. This offers the majestic views of the Hudson River and the surrounding neighborhood to the people on bikes.
The Tappan Zee Bridge is cable-stayed. It is designed with remarkable towers that support the bridge deck using cables. The design also permits a wider and a modern composition to facilitate increased traffic and safety standards.
The bridge serves as an important transportation link between the northern suburbs of New York City. It also provides an essential connection for commuters and trade in the area.
The Happenings of 31st August 2023
Recently, the bridge was crammed due to the collision of a hollow tower that was being transported through it. The tower accidentally struck the South Broadway bridge in Nyack, provoking an incident on the New York State Thruway directing to the Tappan Zee Bridge.
One of the commuters said that it was the third time the overpass had been hit, disturbing the flow of traffic in the area.
According to the public information officer, Khurram Saeed, the accident was very severe. It broke two of the bridge’s eight girders. Furthermore, it also hit the old digital lane control sign.
Due to this sudden chaos, the remaining three lanes were shut down instantly. It caused delays and extremely sluggish traffic flow. The drivers on the spot said that it was one of the worst traffic jams they had ever encountered. Later on, the Thruway reopened around 10:30 a.m. on the same day.
Have you ever faced such traffic in your area? Tell your traffic story with us. Also, share the post with your friends and family, alarming them about the incident.
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