Buying Time

摘要

While New Yorkers still debate the ultimate fate of the 49-year-old Tap-pan Zee Bridge over the Hudson River, state officials are relieved to know that they acted early enough to buy the time needed to properly weigh that decision. "No matter what the community decides, the bridge cannot be replaced before 2012," says Ramesh Mehta, area division director for the New York State Thruway Authority (NYTA), which owns and operates the bridge 13 miles north of New York City. Knowing that the Tappan Zee will still be in use at least another 8 to 10 years, "we have continued to replace our concrete deck panels over the last few years," adds Mehta. "So far, starting with the worst sections, we have replaced 22 percent of the entire 1.5 million square foot deck."