SHARE

Tappan Zee Bridge Closure Creates Traffic Nightmare

This story has been updated.

A shot of the crane that collapsed onto the Tappan Zee Bridge, snarling traffic Tuesday afternoon.

A shot of the crane that collapsed onto the Tappan Zee Bridge, snarling traffic Tuesday afternoon.

Photo Credit: Kempter's Fire Wire

Motorists in the vicinity of the Tappan Zee Bridge on both sides of the Hudson River contending with gridlock on many side streets as they scramble to get to alternate routes as the Tuesday afternoon evening commute nears following a noon-time crane collapse on the bridge span.

All lanes on the bridge shut down at around noon following the incident in which a crane from the construction site of the new span of the Tappan Zee Bridge collapsed on the old span. Five non-life threatening injuries were reported.

Traffic is reported to be extremely heavy along the I-287 corridor in Westchester and on I-87 with delays stretching back to New Rochelle.

Motorists traveling southbound have the option of being diverted off exit 15 (New Jersey - I-287 - NJ Route 17 South) or exit 12 (West Nyack - NY Route 303 - Palisades Center Drive). All northbound traffic is being diverted off exit 8 (White Plains - Rye - Cross Westchester Expressway).

Traffic on Route 9 in Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow north of the bridge is extremely heavy.

Motorists who need to cross the Hudson River are using the Bear Mountain Bridge, located 33 miles north of the TZB, and the George Washington Bridge, located 20 miles south, as alternates. Hour-long delays were reported at the GWB at 4:30 p.m.

Due to the Tappan ZEExpress bus service being unable to operate across the bridge, customers traveling from Grand Central Terminal are encouraged to take the Hudson Line train to Ossining where they can catch the Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry, the Town of Ossining officials announced. 

TZx unitickets will be cross-honored and a shuttle bus will bring passengers to the Palisades Center Park and Ride in West Nyack. From there, service west to Nanuet, Spring Valley, Airmont, and Suffern will be provided on an as-needed basis. 

For more on the crane collapse, click here.

For real time traffic updates, motorists should follow @ThruwayTraffic on Twitter.​

Check back to Daily Voice for updates.

to follow Daily Voice Yorktown and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE