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Tappan Zee Bridge closes to traffic forever

Published  October 6, 2017 10:27pm EDT
New York
FOX 5 New York
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NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - Another milestone is in the books as westbound traffic on the Tappan Zee Bridge was switched over to the new $4 billion Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge Friday evening.

Traffic backed up due to closures and detours but the situation is temporary. This will allow the crews to begin demolishing the old bridge while finishing the new one, which is expected to be done sometime in 2018.

The traffic shift came ahead of schedule; a little more than a month after Rockland-bound traffic shifted off the old bridge.

The Mario Cuomo Bridge's second span, which will eventually carry Westchester-bound traffic, shares a landing with the old bridge necessitating its demolition before the new bridge can be completed.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said tolls will be frozen until 2020. What they will be after that remains to be seen.

All lanes were set to open by Saturday 10 a.m.