Tom Warne Report, 2 November 2012
Wall Street Journal – October 26, 2012
State officials in New York have narrowed their search for a builder of a new Tappan Zee Bridge, with the apparent selection of a team led by Fluor Corp., according to people familiar with negotiations between the New York Thruway State Authority and bidding teams.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration said Tappan Zee Constructors, a joint venture of Fluor Enterprises Inc., American Bridge Co., Granite Construction Northeast Inc. and Traylor Bros. Inc., will begin in-depth negotiations on the $5.2 billion contract to replace the span across the Hudson River.
The selection has not been made officially and the selection is not the final decision in the Cuomo administration’s process. Their selection requires both sides to negotiate a detailed agreement on the final design, cost and construction schedule for the project.
Administration officials say the new Tappan Zee will be built with public funds, but details of the financial plans will not be released until a winning bidder and final price tag have been officially announced. Officials have applied for a federal loan of up to $2.8 billion and have acknowledged that bridge tolls will need to be raised to finance the project. The proposed construction plan includes eight lanes of traffic on twin spans, with a total width of roughly double the existing span, adding a rush-hour bus lane, a pedestrian and bicycle crossing and wide shoulders.