The environmental impact statement for a new Hudson River crossing north of New York City is still in draft, but it will not include an expected mass transit component. With work on replacement spans for the Tappan Zee Bridge expected to begin as early as next fall, state officials say that they had to limit the current project's scope.
A plan to replace the deteriorating bridge has been debated for years. Carrying the New York State Thruway over the Hudson River north of New York City, the 56-year-old cantilever bridge required much costly maintenance to remain in service. An environmental review began in 2002 and considered everything from partially rebuilding the existing span to replacing it with a seven-mile-long tunnel beneath the Hudson.