Tappan Zee Bridge Crane Collapse: Northbound Lanes to Reopen for Evening Commute (Live Updates)

UPDATE—Tuesday, July 19, 2016, 5:25 p.m.: With the bridge inspection completed, commuters will soon be able to travel across the Tappan Zee Bridge again, in the wake of the crane collapse that occurred around noon.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said the northbound lanes of I-287 will be open by 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, calling the reopening of those lanes “a priority.”

The northbound lanes go from Westchester to Rockland.

Around 7 p.m., one southbound lane, which goes from the Rockland side to the Westchester side of the Hudson River, will be reopened, with a second lane slated to open by 8 p.m.

Cuomo said there was surface damage to the southern-most lane.

“I would call it significant damage,” he said.

There is also some structural damage to the southern-most lane underneath the bridge, Cuomo said.

“That lane will require work before it is operational,” he said.

Cuomo again said it was amazing that no one hit the boom after it collapsed and that the boom didn’t hit a car.

“To me, it’s nothing short of a miracle,” he said.

UPDATE — Tuesday, July 19, 2016, 4:13 p.m.: Inspectors are on their way to the Tappan Zee Bridge to determine its condition after a crane collapsed over all six lanes Tuesday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at an afternoon press conference at the bridge that the decision on whether the span can be reopened to traffic will not be made until the inspectors have completed their survey.

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“Miraculously, there were no serious injuries,” Cuomo said, adding that he will be saying a “special prayer tonight that we were that fortunate.”

Cuomo said one worker and people in two cars suffered minor injuries. The two vehicles had accidents avoiding the fallen crane, he said.

Other media reports from local officials said two bridge workers were injured along with three drivers.

“We do not know why the crane collapsed,” Cuomo said. “Dozens and dozens of cranes have been operating at the bridge for months.”

The equipment that collapsed was a vibratory hammer crane, which was driving pylons into the Hudson River.

Terry Towle, president of Tappan Zee Constructors, the company that is building the new bridge, said the crane was sitting on the new bridge and that no worker was thrown into the water.

He said the crane operation was a routine task and that it was too early for him to offer a reason for the collapse, ruling out wind as a factor.

Cuomo said the inspection should be completed in several hours.

“From the surface it looks like only one lane was damaged,” he said. “I would rather err on the side of caution” because the bridge is an older structure and should have been replaced years ago.

Cuomo said that most of the traffic had been removed from the bridge by the time of the press conference, which wrapped up around 3:40 p.m.

Crews were taking the collapsed crane apart, as well as removing sections of the median so vehicles could turn around and exit the bridge.

The governor said that until further notice motorists should use the George Washington Bridge, the Bear Mountain Bridge, the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge or the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge to cross the Hudson River.

With the TZB shut down, traffic woes expanded exponentially throughout the lower Hudson Valley. Ken Halajian of Ossining got caught in the backwash trying to get home from a visit to the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx.

"Just got home. Traffic a nightmare," he texted. "I think everyone is on 9A trying to get to the Bear Mountain Bridge. Thank God it appears that no one was killed."

SEE ALSO: Clarkstown Cops Block Thruway Entrances After TZB Crane Collapse

Suzi McDonough, Carmel town councilwoman and candidate for State Assembly, said she would be taking a close look into what went wrong on the bridge and how it could have been prevented.

“With the grace of God, it was not rush hour and only a handful of people were injured,” she said. “We must ensure that there are the proper safety precautions taken for the safe construction of the Tappan Zee Bridge, as well as other construction across New York State.”

Patch Staff writer Lanning Taliaferro contributed to this report.

UPDATE—Tuesday, July 19, 2016, 2 p.m.: The crane that collapsed onto the Tappan Zee Bridge Tuesday is being cut up, and the center median will be removed to allow traffic to move, Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner said.

Motorists should expect extensive delays and consider alternate routes, he said.

The Westchester County Office of Emergency Management is monitoring the situation, Feiner said.

Southbound lanes are in the process of being opened, and some sections of the center median are being removed so that northbound traffic can turn around, he said. There is no estimate as to when the northbound lanes will be reopened.

The Tarrytown Police Department has closed down the ramps to the Westchester side of the bridge. The Greenburgh Police department has sent tech rescue teams and EMS to the scene, and we will be monitoring traffic backup problems, Feiner said.

There were three reported minor injuries as a result of the crane collapsing around noon Tuesday, he said, though some media reports said there were more.

Feiner said that the collapse could have been worse and called it a miracle.

“We were lucky there were no fatalities or serious injuries,” he said.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he will hold a press briefing at the bridge at about 3:15 p.m. Tuesday.

The Army Corps of Engineers is en route to the scene to check the structural integrity of the damaged bridge, according to FIOS1 News. Until they give the approval, the span cannot reopen, news reports said.

UPDATE—Tuesday, July 19, 2016, 1:10 p.m.: There were three minor injuries when the crane collapsed Tuesday on the Tappan Zee Bridge, Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner said.

Feiner said he is going to consult with his police chief about what motorists should do for the evening commute.

"I think that this incident highlights the fact that we have to take a look at all bridge construction in the area," he said.

Authorities said the collapse occurred around noon blocking all six lanes of the bridge.

SEE ALSO: Clarkstown Cops Block Thruway Entrances After TZB Crane Collapse

UPDATE—Tuesday, July 19, 2016, 12:45 p.m.: The crane that collapsed fell onto a car on the bridge around noon, lohud.com said.

At least two people were taken away by medical personnel, according to ABC-TV Channel 7.

Original story, Tuesday, July 19, 2016, 12:25 p.m.:

TARRYTOWN, NY — All lanes are blocked Tuesday on I-87, the New York State Thruway, in both directions from Tappan Zee Bridge Toll Barrier to before Exit 10, according to 511ny.org.

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NBC New York is reporting a crane collapsed, and officials shut down all traffic to the bridge.

Main photo credit: Thruway Authority.