Drone video: Before you drive, tour the new Tappan Zee Bridge from above
Nicholas TantilloThe team at lohud is presenting the first drone video of the existing Tappan Zee Bridge and its replacement span, the Gov Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.
Captured in 4K video by the newsroom’s DJI Inspire 2 drone, the footage gives audiences a rare glimpse at the new and old bridges, side by side, before the former is deconstructed and removed from the Hudson River.
The Tappan Zee Bridge opened on Dec. 15, 1955. Connecting Nyack to Tarrytown, the bridge is credited with transforming Rockland County into a suburb from a farming community. Toward the end of its tenure, the state Thruway Authority estimated 134,000 vehicles crossed the 3.1-mile span a day.
HOW QUAINT! 1955 newsreel shows Tappan Zee Bridge opening
FUTURE: How the old Tappan Zee Bridge will live on
WHAT'S LEFT: New Tappan Zee Bridge nears opening date, so what's left to do?
The new bridge, named for the former governor and father of the current one, is slated to open in late August. Although the state has not released an official number, the toll is expected to rise over its predecessor.
Another change: the $4 billion span will be equipped with Intelligent Transportation System, which will monitor weather conditions and notify motorists of delays via electronic message boards.
FROM THE ARCHIVE: Stories capture Rockland's suburban shift
The existing bridge later added Gov. Malcolm Wilson, who was from Yonkers, to its name.