O.C. DPW to Utilize Tappan Zee Bridge Panels

(From left to right) Senior DPW engineer Tony Scotto, DPW Commissioner Erik Denega and Deputy DPW Commissioner Travis Ewald inspected panels at the Tappan Zee Bridge on November 15th, 2017.

GOSHEN – Orange County will be the first county in New York State to receive panels that were salvaged from the Tappan Zee Bridge when it was dismantled last summer for repurposing.

The New York State Thruway Authority is scheduled to deliver 14 of the 150 panels to Orange County’s Transfer Station, located on Route 17M in New Hampton, starting on Monday, May 14th. Each panel is worth approximately $55,000. The rest of the panels will be distributed throughout the state.

“Utilizing these panels from the Tappan Zee Bridge will save our taxpayers approximately $770,000,” Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus said. “This is an exciting opportunity for the County and I’m grateful that our Department of Public Works has taken the initiative to recycle these panels. We will continue to look for opportunities to enhance our infrastructure in a fiscally responsible manner.”

According to Erik Denega, Orange County’s DPW Commissioner, the panels will be used to build four highway bridges and two rail to trail bridges. The concrete and steel panels are approximately 13 feet by 50 feet, 8.5 inches thick and weigh 50 tons each.

The Corwin Bridge in the Town of Mount Hope will be the first bridge built with the Tappan Zee panels. Construction is set to begin in late summer and will last approximately three months.
The bridge carries County Route 11, known as Mount Hope Road over the Shawangunk Kill in the Town of Mount Hope. The panels are expected to considerably shorten the construction timetable and reduce the cost by over $160,000.

“We are excited that Orange County will be the first to receive the Tappan Zee panels,” Denega said. “Our staff of bridge engineers have done an excellent job planning for the acceptance and utilization of the panels on our vehicular and pedestrian bridges. This is a ‘win’ for all involved, especially Orange County taxpayers.”

Orange County DPW is assessing other bridges for suitability to utilize the rest of the panels and will incorporate them into the design and rehabilitation projects for three more highway bridges in the near future.

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