Final E’Bound Main Span Steel add is Next Week

The final section of steel for the eastbound main span (above photo, courtesy of New York State Thruway Authority) was to have been added yesterday; however, nature said otherwise, and plans were moved to next week. Earlier this month, crews installed that bridge’s next-to-last section of main span structural steel.

Close-up of the eastbound span and its blue steel girders was taken by yours truly last month during the westbound span’s opening ceremony. View from that span.

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2017

Grateful and Excited: Recent Vision Correction

Eastern side of current and new bridges from a third–floor window/© Janie Rosman 2017

Last month I stood at the third-floor windows and looked between the leaves of the trees to see the bridge. Last night I did it again. Whoosh!

One eye can see clearly across the room and across building tops; the other eye awaits its transformation. Monday afternoon I went for a walk and stopped every so often to stare into the distance, closing one eye and opening the other.

Even the sidewalk looked different! This is what I saw imprinted in the cement, which I thought was both curious and interesting.

Right now I’m typing with my “new” left eye (right eye is closed). I haven’t been able to clearly see words on a computer screen without glasses in more than 25 years. I get giddy thinking about it. This will change so many things! If I look at the screen with both eyes, then vision is distorted so I alternate between the left eye (corrective lens was removed from eyeglass frame) and the right eye (lens is still in frame).

Can’t wait to drive across the bridge this weekend and see details more clearly.

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2017

Saturday en route to Nyack’s Community Event

Getting used to the ride and again drove part of the way in the available uneven right lane. The far lane is separated by a solid white line before the cable-stayed area of the bridge and at the curve approaching Rockland to indicate it’s a “no passing” zone, right?

Three cars crossed that white line, and one car zigzagged to a third lane.

Yesterday was the first Great Nyack Get-Together in Memorial Park. Had a good time seeing friends and meeting people I’d spoken with last week. Kept eyeing the Ferris wheel. As it was brutally hot (and I love hot weather), it was too much for me to get on the ride and then wait in the sun for others to get on or off. Next time. Watch for story in this week’s Rockland County Times.

See the bridges in the background? After tomorrow I’ll be able to see them a bit more clearly from Memorial Park without distance glasses. Within two weeks I’ll have x-ray vision. Stay tuned.

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2017

Uneven Lane no worry for Rider; Barrier Update

This afternoon the far right lane — that will become the shared use path — was blocked by orange cones. Signs posted on the overhead gantries tell motorcyclists the second lane (that will become the breakdown lane) is uneven.

This ambitious person was riding on a motorcycle, and apparently neither the gantries’ message about the road surface nor the road itself bothered him.

Good for him! Take note, drivers who complain about the uneven right lanes.

Because of the orange cones there was traffic — yes, really — on the Westchester approach span. It gave me a chance to see a bit of the new maintenance facility progress. And . . . the concrete barrier was moved so there were still four lanes westbound.

Speaking of barrier, next week crews will start removing the structures that store the Tappan Zee Bridge’s movable barrier and will also replace sections of its concrete barrier — that separates eastbound traffic from the empty lanes — with orange traffic barrels.

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2017

Bridge Progress and Four Years in Two Minutes

Blue jump forms will help build the main span’s 419-foot towers./Photo: NYSTA

Taking a look back two years ago when the main span towers were beginning. Here are the past four years in two minutes courtesy of the project team.

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2017