This release comes from the Office of the State Comptroller:
State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced he has approved a $3.14 billion contract between the state Thruway Authority and Tappan Zee Constructors to design and build the new Tappan Zee bridge.
“Replacing the Tappan Zee Bridge is New York state’s largest single infrastructure project and is vital to our economic prosperity,” DiNapoli said. “To protect taxpayers, my office will closely scrutinize the Thruway’s oversight of the construction of the new bridge. The Thruway Authority is responsible for proposing a financing plan and must live up to its commitment to pursue the lowest cost options and ensure that its customers are paying the lowest possible tolls. Every effort must be taken to minimize costs for this project and protect the long-term fiscal health of the Thruway system.”
DiNapoli’s contract approval does not constitute approval of any financial plan, toll increase or debt issuance. The Comptroller’s office will examine these matters separately and will monitor and audit the Thruway’s finances to hold the Authority accountable on issues of transparency, fiscal stability and operational efficiency.
The 66-month contract was won by Tappan Zee Constructors, a joint venture of Fluor Enterprises, Inc., American Bridge Company, Granite Construction Northeast, Inc. and Traylor Bros., Inc. The Thruway Authority received three bids for the project.
The approved contract takes effect immediately.
To read the approval letter, visit: http://www.osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/jan13/tappan-zee-bridge-contract.pdf
I agree that a tunnel would be a better alternative to a bridge but this is reality, not the Twilight Zone.
By the way I am not a big fan of Cuomo.
Now, money under the table, favors, and corruption will take over. 6 guys standing around a hole with their hands in their pockets, etc. etc. etc.
"7.3.2 Earth Pressure Balance and Slurry Face Shield Tunnel Boring Machines As a turning point in global tunneling equipment development, soft ground tunnel shields equipped with wheeled excavators were exported to Japan . Further development of soft-ground tunneling machines was flat in the USA for many years, Japan, however, took a good idea, invested heavily in equipment development and within a decade or so exported vastly improved tunneling methods back to the USA in the form of pressurized-face tunneling machines."