carimmohelp: Bridge plans to proceed as scheduled following draft EIS completion

воскресенье, 29 января 2012 г.

Bridge plans to proceed as scheduled following draft EIS completion

Patrick Gallagher | Jan 27, 2012 | Comments 0

After more than a decade of studies and stalled plans, New York state announced Jan. 24 the completion of the Tappan Zee Bridge draft environmental impact statement (DEIS, allowing plans to proceed on schedule.

The DEIS was submitted to the Federal Highway Administration by the Jan. 19 deadline that had been set by project coordinators and was released to the public last Wednesday.

"Now that we understand the environmental effects of reconstructing the bridge, it is time to start laying out real construction plans," said state Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald in a statement.

Public hearings on the DEIS will be held on Feb. 28 in Rockland County and March 1 in Westchester. Comments on DEIS will be accepted through March 15.

The project is expected to create more than 23,000 jobs and generate salaries and wages of $228 million, according to the DEIS. Indirect economic activity resulting from the project is projected at more than $168 million.

The DEIS estimated construction would last between three and five and a half years, with the cost estimated to run between $3.5 billion and $5 billion.

The state DOT and Thruway Authority are reviewing statements of qualifications that were submitted by prospective contractors by Jan. 10.

A short list of qualified bidders will be finalized by Jan. 31, after which final proposals will be due back in June.

Project coordinators are expecting to select a winning bid in July and said that construction could begin as early as August.

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