Sights and Stops from South Nyack to Tarrytown

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These pictures from Friday’s walk are randomly sequenced. People were friendly, the views were spectacular, I enjoyed seeing the bridge and landings art . . . and realized I’d missed something. One of several reasons to return. Till next time!

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2020

Perfect Day to walk on the newly-opened Path

It was a beautiful day for a walk across the new bridge’s path. It was also very hot, sometimes windy, and never boring during my nearly two-hour journey. I left my car at the South Nyack landing and walked to Tarrytown, stopping to take pictures of the bridge and the gorgeous river views.

The Hudson Link driver who picked me up in Tarrytown didn’t stop at the South Nyack landing so I asked him to let me out at the entrance to the Esposito Trail. I walked back to where the spur path met the bridge path and then to the landing. Probably walked more than four miles total.

Remember I wrote about practicing for this walk and that my new hip joint can do this? During the past week I walked less than a mile and a half at one time and was tired from the walk. However, today’s trip was different: the path wasn’t hard under my feet like concrete is and was only challenging at times because of the heat.

Less than one mile to the landing per the above sign! After I passed the sixth overlook and felt the bridge slope toward Tarrytown (it’s an incline westbound) I began humming the theme song from Rocky. I did it!

Of the many exciting experiences covering this project for nearly seven years, I’d say today’s walk was on par with the main span towers’ topping off ceremony and the westbound span opening.

More posts and photos to come. I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2020

Throwback Thursday: Deck Panel Installation

This time last year:

Crews continue to set precast concrete deck panels atop the steel girders, install rebar, pour concrete and ready the driving surface of the eastbound span. This is what the westbound span looked like before its final driving surface was applied. Deck panels were interlocked via their hairpin reinforcing steel bars; the spaces between them were closed with reinforcing concrete.

They’re doing other work, too, including removing sections of the Tappan Zee Bridge. Their order is the section south of the center, a cantilever truss weighing 4,560 tons; strand jacks will then help lower the main span section closest to Westchester, an anchor span weighing 5,350 tons, onto barges. Then comes the section south of the center, followed by the section closest to Rockland.

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2018

Happy Anniversary to Six Years of Blogging

They look so close to each other, stay cables and the cantilever truss structure. That’s what I thought driving home as cars well above the speed limit passed me.

The day was a break from a difficult week, a chance to disconnect temporarily. I’ve been covering this project for the past seven years, blogging about it for six, and sometimes include personal posts. I need to write, It keeps me going.

Obama fast-tracked the TZB project/© Janie Rosman 2014

Seeing President Obama, even from afar, when he came to Tarrytown five years ago, was a highlight as were watching the super crane place the first steel girder assembly and walking on the westbound span opening day ceremonies and freezing my bum during the topping off ceremony for the main span towers.

Governor Cuomo and your intrepid reporter/Phil Little

And the boat trips and umpteen photos and meeting the governor who, initially surprised and maybe wondering what the gutsy reporter walking toward him would ask or say, was friendly and seemed relieved no questions were asked. It was my intent to introduce myself, and as he stood there alone, I took the opportunity.

A favorite souvenir is the tiny, heavy sample from the new structure that keeps the papers on my desk from rearranging themselves when the window’s open.

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2019

It’s a New Year with the Same Tolls . . . for Now

Expect the unexpected, right?

In the most unlikely place two years ago this month, I noticed the design on the carpet of my doctor’s office looked like the main span towers and road deck. Do you also see the towers in the pattern?

Seen at summer 2018 final TZB historical tour from Haverstraw Bay./© J. Rosman 2018

Will 2019 be the last year for a five-dollar cash toll on the new bridge? Maybe Larry Schwartz was right: eight days after he, Cuomo’s then-secretary and chief-of-staff, announced the probability of inflated cash tolls ($14) on the new bridge, the governor called for the task force.

How’s that working out? I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2019