TZ crane calamity closes bridge for hours; lanes now reopening

Photos by Elaine Laurino of South Nyack

Coverage from CBS News and Rockland County Government Twitter account

Construction Crane Collapses Onto Tappan Zee Bridge; 3 Drivers, 2 Workers Hurt

UPDATERockland bound lanes of the TZ Bridge are now open. One Westchester-bound lane reopened at 7 p.m. and a second is due to reopen at 8 p.m., according to authorities. 

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — At least three drivers and two workers were hurt when a giant construction crane collapsed onto the Tappan Zee Bridge. Images from the scene showed a mess of mangled metal scattered across the roadway after the crane toppled off the new Tappan Zee Bridge around noon Tuesday.

It’s still unclear what caused the crane to collapse. Authorities said three drivers were hurt when they swerved to avoid the crane after it came crashing down. Two bridge workers were also injured.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day said none of the victims were seriously hurt, according to a message on the county’s official Twitter page. First responders from several agencies were on the scene, including marine units and helicopters. Gov. Andrew Cuomo is also en route and is expected to hold a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

20160719_133927All traffic on the bridge was closed following the incident and the New York State Department of Transportation is urging drivers to avoid the area. The DOT said northbound traffic was being detoured at exit 8 in White Plains while southbound traffic was being rerouted at exit 12 in WestNyack.

Day said the integrity of the bridge is being evaluated.

“We want to be confident that the bridge structure is still in place and the corp of engineers has been notified to respond as rapidly as possible to ascertain the condition,” Day told WCBS 880.

Construction on the new Tappan Zee Bridge has been underway for three years. The $3.9 billion project, which is being built alongside the old span, is expected to be completed by 2018. In March, three crew members were killed when their 90-foot tugboat sank after it hit a construction Picture 3barge near the bridge site.

 

 

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