The New York State Thruway Authority said on March 31 that it will withhold up to $1 million per month in progress payments to Tappan Zee Constructors LLC due to repeated incidents of construction barges at the site of the new Tappan Zee Bridge coming unmoored and drifting down the Hudson River. The most recent incident took place on March 30, when a material-laden barge drifted three miles down river before it was recovered.
Thruway Authority spokesman Brian Conybeare called the incident "unacceptable" and said project leaders are investigating. Peter Sanderson, Thruway Authority project director, said in a statement that portions of the payments would be withheld "until TZC delivers a contractually required corrective action plan."