Day Praises South Nyack's Struggle Over New Bridge's Bike Path

In a column on his campaign site and in the Rockland Times, Rockland County Executive Ed Day praised South Nyack and New York state officials for talking together about the Shared Use Path proposed for the new bridge across the Tappan Zee.

“I urge all parties to continue the positive discussions to help realize a unified vision for an integrated, sustainable South Nyack neighborhood that will provide an extraordinary Hudson River gateway to our county,” he wrote.

The state has posted eight concepts for the path’s Rockland side terminus on the New NY Bridge website. Village officials are worried about the speed and lack of public input into the process and have called on state and federal officials for help.

• SEE: South Nyack Continues Fight Against Bridge Bike Path Plans

None of the initial concepts are acceptable, say village officials, who want the location for the terminus at Exit 10 of the Thruway. The social and economic impacts to the Village of South Nyack must be considered and addressed, they say.

In Day’s column, he wrote:

As I see it, the thoughtful development of the shared use path provides New York State a shot at redemption. Construction of the existing Tappan Zee Bridge in 1952 obliterated most of the Village of South Nyack and the Hamlet of Central Nyack. Hundreds of residents lost their homes. Dozens of businesses were bulldozed. Stores, churches, a train station and even cemeteries were razed. Appeals to then-Governor Thomas E. Dewey to spare the village and hamlet were turned down in the name of progress. In less than three years, the heart and soul of South Nyack - its bustling downtown - was torn in half, paved over and lost forever to a six-lane interstate highway.

Today, Governor Cuomo can make amends with local residents, many of whom still remember the callous treatment by the state back in 1952.

But, Day said, “ As County Executive, it is my responsibility to make certain this project—one component of the overall $3.9 billion bridge replacement—is designed and constructed in the best interest of all 320,000 Rockland residents, not only South Nyack’s population of 3,500.”

MAP: SUP concept B-1/New York Thruway Authority