Cuomo Welcomes Giant Crane to Mid-Hudson Between Grandview and Tarrytown

The Left Coast Lifter, nicknamed the I Lift NY, is currently stopped between Grandview-on-Hudson and Tarrytown in mid-river— the end of its journey from San Francisco.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo paid a visit to the Tappan Zee to welcome the super crane, which processed up the Hudson this morning from Jersey City as hundreds of people watched from shore. Check out the New NY BridgeTwitter feed of its journey here and learn more about the crane here.

The super crane is 328 feet tall ( taller than a 30-story building), and can lift up to 1,900 tons, or 12 Statue of Liberties, at once. The huge lifting capability of the floating crane will enable the new bridge to be constructed and the old Tappan Zee Bridge to be disassembled more safely and efficiently, New NY Bridge officials said.

Cuomo welcomed the crane and used the occasion to announce the launch of Build NY, a new initiative to take advantage of the “design-build” model that has allowed the new bridge project and others to be designed, then constructed under a single contract.

Under design-build, Tappan Zee Constructors’ use of I Lift NY was one of the factors that saved more than a billion dollars from early estimates, according to a press release from the governor’s office. A total of 10 project contracts have been awarded as design-build since 2011, saving the State an estimated $1.575 billion and 258 months of time.

Under Build NY, this same authority would be expanded to all State agencies so they can bring private sector innovation to project delivery, expediting projects at a lower cost.

“The New NY Bridge project is a symbol of partnership and progress – it is tactile proof that the new New York is here, with a government that works more efficiently and tackles problems more affordably,” Cuomo said in the statement. “The I Lift NY super crane will speed up construction time and it is one of the factors that helped save the State more than one billion dollars compared to early estimates. This is proof that the design-build method works – and in the interests of the State and its taxpayers, now is the time to expand it.”

Here’s more information about the new bridge from the press release:

Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership and with the support of President Barack Obama and the Federal government, the New NY Bridge project has progressed dramatically since construction began in October 2013 following many years of delay. Since October 2011, steps forward include: enactment of new design-build legislation; review and completion of concurrent environmental review and procurement processes; negotiation of a project labor agreement with construction unions; and recommendation from a panel of local leaders and transportation experts for a comprehensive plan for mass transit options for the region – all with an unprecedented level of transparency and community involvement. The bridge is scheduled to be completed in less than five years from the start of formal construction, making it one of the nation’s largest construction projects to be completed in such a short time.

Project Timeline

October 2011: Governor Cuomo restarts environmental review process

September 2012: Completion of environmental review process

January 2013: Design-build contract awarded to Tappan Zee Constructors

March 2013: Pre-Construction activities begin on the Hudson River

July 2013: Test pile driving begins

October 2013: Permanent pile installation begins

March 2014: Work begins on approach substructure

June 2014: Work begins on main span substructure

September 2014: First vertical columns rise above the river

Late 2016: Complete new north span

December 2016: Relocate westbound traffic to new north span

February 2017: Relocate existing eastbound traffic to new north span

February 2017: Start demolition of existing bridge

Late 2017: Both spans complete

November 2017: Relocate eastbound traffic from new north span to new south span

April 2018: Physical completion of project

July 2018: Final acceptance of project

About the New NY Bridge

The New NY Bridge’s eight traffic lanes, four breakdown and emergency lanes, and state-of-the-art traffic monitoring systems will mean less congestion for motorists. Designed and constructed to be mass-transit-ready, the new crossing will be able to accommodate bus rapid transit, light rail or commuter rail. The twin-span bridge will also include a bike and pedestrian path. Extensive measures are in place throughout the duration of the project to protect the environment and to monitor the impact of construction on surrounding communities.

The total estimated cost of the New NY Bridge project is $3.9 billion, far less than initially expected. The design-build contractor for the new bridge is Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC, a consortium of some of the world’s best-known and most highly-regarded design, engineering and construction firms, including Fluor, American Bridge, Granite, and Traylor Bros., along with key design firms HDR, Buckland & Taylor, URS and GZA. Tappan Zee Constructors is working closely on the project with a team of employees from the New York State Thruway Authority and the State Department of Transportation.

The I Lift NY super crane made the 6,000-mile journey from the San Francisco area early this year.

PHOTO: http://newnybridgegallery.com/webcam.php 1:15PM Oct. 6, 2014