From Left to Right: Jay Wagner, PE, NYSTA Approach Span Manager for New NY Bridge, Anthony Fasano, PE, NYSSPE Exec. Director, Jamey Barbas, PE, NYSTA Project Director for New NY Bridge, Laura Pellizzi, PE, NYSSPE President
The New York State Society of Professional Engineers (NYSSPE) hosted their 2017 Annual Conference last week in White Plains, NY offering up to 9 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) to participants including an extensive 2 PDH boat tour of the construction of the New NY Bridge.
Members and participants took the 4-hour boat tour up the Hudson River to see the New NY Bridge (replacing the Tappan Zee bridge) construction site up close and personal.
The New NY Bridge Project, which serves to replace the existing Tappan Zee Bridge over the Hudson River in suburban New York City, is one of the largest ongoing bridge construction projects in the US. This $3.9 billion dollar project is scheduled for completion in 2017 and is the first design/build project ever undertaken by the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA). With a twin structure more than 3 miles long over the Hudson River, many construction challenges were encountered. Along with the need to meet numerous environmental conditions, partner with local communities, as well as ensure the uninterrupted use of the NYS Thruway by the traveling public, this project offered opportunity for unique engineering solutions.
During the boat ride, NYSSPE members heard from Jay Wagner, PE and Jamey Barbas, PE both of the NYS Thruway Authority the discuss the development and progression of the New NY Bridge.
Jay Wagner, PE, NYSTA Presenting Technical Facts and Challenges about the New NY Bridge on the NYSSPE 2 PDH Boat Tour
Wagner, the Approach Span Manager for the NYS Thruway Authority’s New NY Bridge Project, is a NYS licensed engineer and has worked for the NYS Thruway Authority for 27 years. Wagner provided a general background on the development and progression of the New NY Bridge Project. He discussed a general project overview, as well as particular challenges and innovations in the construction of the long span bridge.
Barbas is the Project Director for the New NY Bridge project. Barbas is a transformative senior executive with a career in bridge design and construction. She has held leadership positions in several international consulting firms. Her industry experience includes leadership of the strategic, operational and technical aspects for the delivery of major structures projects. A registered professional engineer with over 30 years of experience in bridge management, construction and inspection, she has special emphasis on complex and long span bridges.
Barbas discussed some of the major accomplishments recently occurring on the New NY Bridge Project, the twin-span replacement for the Tappan Zee Bridge. In March, the final westbound bridge steel section was installed thereby establishing a new connection across the Hudson River. Completion of stay-cable installation, roadway barriers, and fencing with final wearing surface placement sets the stage to open the westbound bridge this year.
The tour was a very special opportunity for NYSSPE members to engage with these New York State Thruway Authority engineers and to get an up close view of the construction. The boat passed under the existing and new bridge structures offering some impressive views of the construction.
NYSSPE thank Ms. Barbas, Mr. Wagner and the entire New York State Thruway Authority for their contribution to this educational event.
– – – –
Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.
Leave a Reply