Project Profile: Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge (Tappan Zee Bridge Replacement)

photo credit: New York State Thruway Authority

Location	Westchester to Rockland County, New York
Project Borrower / Sponsor	New York State Thruway Authority
Program Areas
Mode	Toll Bridge
Description	The project is the replacement of the nearly 60-year-old Tappan Zee Bridge, called the "Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge," carrying I-87/287 over the Hudson River between Westchester and Rockland Counties, approximately 20 miles north of New York City. The Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge is being built alongside the existing bridge, and bi-directional traffic will be rerouted to the new westbound bridge span while the new eastbound span is being completed. The demolition of the existing bridge and construction of the new eastbound span will happen concurrently at the end of the project. The new tolled bridge is a dual-span twin bridge with eight lanes, four emergency lanes, a dedicated commuter bus lane, and a bicycle/pedestrian path. The bridge is being designed to accommodate future transit plans - bus rapid transit, light rail, or commuter rail.
Cost	Project cost - $4.979 billion* Contingency and Allowances - $686 million Prior Development Costs - $62 million** Design-build contract - $3.142 billion Oversight Engineer and project management costs - $133 million Financing Costs - $956 million TIFIA Eligible costs - $4.959 billion excludes $39 million in cash on hand *includes $20 million of ineligible prior development costs
Funding Sources	TIFIA Loan - $1.6 billion Thruway Capital Program - $42 million Pay Go Revenue During Construction - $290 million Toll Revenue Bonds and Notes - $3.047 billion
Project Delivery / Contract Method	Design-build
Private Partner	Design-builder - Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC Fluor Enterprises, Inc. American Bridge Granite Construction Northeast, Inc. Traylor Bros., Inc. HDR
Project Advisors / Consultants	To New York State Thruway Authority Ernst & Young Infrastructure Advisors LLC -- Financial Advisor Public Resources Advisory Group - Financial Advisor Acacia Financial Group - Financial Advisor Harris Beach PLLC - Legal Advisor Jacobs Civil Consultants - Traffic and Revenue Consultant To USDOT TIFIA JPO TIFIA Legal Advisor - Nixon Peabody, LLP TIFIA Financial Advisor - Scully Capital Services, Inc.
Lenders	Bondholders, USDOT TIFIA
Duration / Status	The design-build contract was awarded to Tappan Zee Constructors in January 2013. Dredging for the new bridge began in August 2013. The westbound span opened in August 2017 and the project is expected to be fully complete by the end of 2018.
TIFIA Credit Assistance	Direct Loan - $1.6 billion TIFIA will be repaid from NYSTA system revenues.
Financial Status	TIFIA credit agreement was executed on December 19, 2013 Financial close on senior debt occurred on December 18, 2013
Innovations	The environmental approval process took 10 months instead of the usual multi-year process because it was fast-tracked as a "High Priority Project" by the Obama Administration.
Related Links / Articles	NY State Thruway Project Website
Contacts	New York State Thruway Authority Tel: (518) 436-2700