Travelers on the NYS Thruway to Rockland County experience a natural connection to the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge as they navigate the curves, glimpse Manhattan to the south and spot the Lighthouse to the north. Cyclists and pedestrians, using the dedicated pathways on the Bridge’s north side, enjoy the exercise, the six overlooks and the public art. But what if driving, cycling, or walking the Bridge isn’t feasible? Does that mean you’re locked out of any meaningful experience with the longest span in New York State? Quite the opposite. Regardless of your profession, age, or zip code, you can find fun connections to the Bridge by exploring its features and appreciating its history:
……as a Playwright
Set the stage for your exploration of all things Bridge-related by revisiting Washington Irving’s short story “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” with one of the first references in American literature to the area: “at that broad expansion of the (Hudson) river denominated by the ancient Dutch navigators the Tappaan Zee, and where they always prudently shortened sail, and implored the protection of St. Nicholas when they crossed, there lies a small market town or rural port, which by some is called Greensburgh, but which is more generally and properly known by the name of Tarry Town…” One hundred and thirty-five years after Irving’s story was written, the Tappan Zee Bridge was built (1955) linking Westchester and Rockland counties and replaced in 2017 by the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. Curtain up!
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Sketchbook_of_Geoffrey_Crayon_(1819)/The_Legend_of_Sleepy_Hollow.
……as a Wildlife Enthusiast
More than 400 feet above the Hudson River in a tower atop the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, Peregrine falcon pairs call the Bridge home for much of the year. From their high vantage point and protected in a nestbox, the birds raise their family and hunt for prey, exceeding 200 miles per hour during their dives. Installed in 2014, a live cam keeps you up-to-date on falcon comings, goings, and hatchings as they occur. Contests are held to name the chicks with recent winners being Taylor Swoop, Jimmy Falcon, and Beakonce’. A wildlife specialist checks on the chicks’ health and places bands on them before they leave the nest for good at approximately 40 days. Follow the falcons when they arrive at https://mariomcuomobridge.ny.gov/explore-bridge-falcon-webcam)
…….as an Engineer
Imagine what factors must have been considered when building the largest bridge in NY’s history at the widest part of the Hudson: addressing ocean-like conditions of the River, frequent three-foot swells, widespread freezing, swift tides, vessel impact, and bedrock locations greater than 150 feet below the waterline. Thanks to modular, off-site preparation of huge components and the availability of the 328-foot tall super-crane The Left Coast Lifter, placement of massive materials became manageable and speedy. Read The National Academy of Construction’s eight-page report detailing the challenges and “geotechnical” conditions that would make any engineer cringe:
…….as a Photographer
Has the Bridge been captured from every angle…every point of view? What have they missed? Check out 125 photos of the Bridge taken by professional photographers posted on this stock photography site—aerial, closeup, black-and-white, sunrise, sunset, panoramic—to see what approach hasn’t been considered. Be inspired to take a closer look.
……as a Tour Guide
With a few facts and figures, you can impress visiting family and friends with your knowledge of all things Bridge-related: that Pete Seeger’s name was once considered for the Bridge; that it cost 4 billion to build and 5 years to complete, that it takes 80 minutes to walk it one way, and at its shallowest, the Hudson River at the Bridge is only 20 feet deep. Build your favorite fact file under “Explore”, “Timeline”, Educational Resources” on the main site: https://mariocuomobridge.ny.gov.
…..as an Event Planner/Celebrator
The Bridge is pre-programmed for nationally celebrated public holidays and significant events, including religious high holidays such as Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Yom Kippur. But you can apply to have the Bridge lit in recognition of an individual who has had a long-standing positive impact on local communities, a not-for-profit (nonpolitical) organization, a municipality, or a school district within the Bridge vicinity. Pick an eastbound color and a westbound color from a palette of 10 (including white). The request form is on the main Bridge website. Just click on the “Lighting” tab at the top. https://mariocuomobridge.ny.gov.
.….as a Statistician
Love numbers? The Traffic Data Viewer (TDV) is an interactive map created by the NYS Department of Transportation giving you access to data for public roads across New York State. Looking up a site point at the Tarrytown entrance to the Bridge (#870211000000), you can find charts for average daily traffic volume, trends over time, and percentage of vehicles by classification. Data shows that typically motorcycles represent .09%, buses are .32%, and passenger cars are 78.8% of traffic volume. Discover more amazing numbers at:
https://nysdottrafficdata.drakewell.com/sitedashboard.asp?node=NYSDOT_SC&cosit=870211000000
…..as a Reader
There’s something about a book that can help tell a story, and the Bridge is no exception. Consider these three options for your library of local lore:
The Tappan Zee Bridge and the Forging of the Rockland Suburb (Roger Panetta, 2010); The Busy Bridge That Got its Break (Children’s story) Shane Svorec, (2022); The Tappan Zee Bridge: Where Do We Go From Here? (Robert T. Hintersteiner, 2002).
….as an Environmentalist
Eleven thousand tons of old steel and concrete from the dismantling of the Tappan Zee Bridge in 2017 and selected for their compatibility and stability, now lie off Long Island as part of six artificial reefs. Hauled to the site on 33 barges, and designed to create a suitable, long-term, sheltered habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms, the recycled material was inspected and cleaned of any hazardous substances before being added to the reefs. You can visit the reefs virtually by going to this interactive map for locations, coordinates, and type of material present.
https://nysdec.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=dd55f0e62c8e4ad195afee458417934d. You can also personally visit the artificial reef sites as a volunteer diver or angler collecting data and recording observations to help monitor the performance of the reefs. Take a deep dive for all the information at
https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/saltwater-fishing/artificial-reefs.
…..as a Film/TV Enthusiast
If you have a longing for the old Tappan Zee Bridge, here are a few movies and TV series that highlighted that Bridge as a backdrop. In “Butterfield 8” (1960), Elizabeth Taylor drives across the Tappan Zee Bridge. Maryl Streep and Robert DeNiro star in “Falling In Love” (1984) with the Tappan Zee Bridge visible in scenes of Streep riding the MetroNorth Hudson Line. Watch for glimpses of the Tappan Zee Bridge in “Unfaithful” (2002) with Richard Gere and Diane Lane. Three History Channel documentaries reference the Tappan Zee Bridge: “The Crumbling of America” (2009), “The Tappan Zee” (2014), and “Engineering America” Series: Project Impossible (2018). Fans of the HBO series “The Sopranos” may remember dialogue in the 55th episode (March 21, 2001) discussing delays on the Tappan Zee Bridge.
……as an Historian/ News Hound
There’s a treasure trove of back stories tucked into 57 million local newspaper pages archived on the Fulton History website. Find a 1976 article describing the first time animals were given permission to cross the Tappan Zee Bridge or a 1980 Herald Stateman piece that points out how discussions of a Hudson River crossing go back to the 1930’s when pedestrian boats operated out of Dobbs Ferry, and ferries serviced Tarrytown and Yonkers to Nyack and Alpine, NJ. Watch the fish, and then click on “Go and Search My Archives”.
https://www.fultonhistory.com.
Pick a connection from here or find a new one. The choice is yours. Just remember, whatever you choose to call it—–The Mario Cuomo Bridge, GMCB, The Tappan Zee Bridge, the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge—you can always find inspiration from this grand structure in our midst.
