Tappan Zee Bridge Crane Collapse: OSHA, State Labor Department Investigating

TARRYTOWN, NY — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the New York State Department of Labor are looking into what caused a 300-ton crane to fall over all six lanes of the Tappan Zee Bridge Tuesday.

A representative of the crane operator’s union said the “black box” of the crane will be something from which the investigation can find out what went wrong, FIOS1 News said.

On Tuesday, July 19, a pylon-driving boom located on the new bridge fell across all six lanes of the old Tappan Zee Bridge.

Southbound motorists were stuck on the bridge for up to five hours while crews dismantled the boom and median dividers were removed.

The surface of the bridge was damaged, and there was also damage to the underside.

There were a few minor injuries, but no one was killed.

All but one lane, where the damage occurred, were reopened Tuesday.

For more details on the investigation, including which employees OSHA has already interviewed, go to the FIOS1 News story and video here.

Photo credit: Rockland Fires Facebook page.