Though some may be on track to be completed while others wallow in planning, here are five major projects underway that should make it easier for New Yorkers to get around. https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/policy/policy/new-york-5-big-transportation-projects.html

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The old Tappan Zee Bridge and the new Mario Cuomo Bridge coexisting across the Hudson River at sunset. | mandritoiu / Shutterstock
POLICY (/POLICY/POLICY)
Where New York stands on 5 big transportation projects
From the Mario Cuomo Bridge to Laguardia Airport, a look at how we're getting around.
By REBECCA C. LEWIS (/author/rebecca-c-lewis) APRIL 29, 2018
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Getting from point A to point B should, theoretically, be a relatively simple task. But in order to travel, the transportation infrastructure
needs to be in place and up to par. Across the state, major projects are underway to repair and update that infrastructure so that New Yorkers
can get where they need to go – whether that’s through the air, over land or over water. Though some may be on track to be completed while
others wallow in planning, here are ve major projects underway that should make it easier for New Yorkers to get around.
Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
Construction for a new Tappan Zee Bridge, since of cially named the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, began in 2013, and the rst lane of traf c
opened in August. The old Tappan Zee was closed to traf c on Oct. 6, 2017, although the original date had been set for Feb. 17, 2017. The
entire project, both the new bridge construction and the old bridge demolition, was originally projected to be done by April 3
(https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/tappan-zee-bridge/2018/03/26/gov-mario-m-cuomo-bridge-new-tappan-zee-bridge-really-time-
and-budget/452445002/). Needless to say, that deadline was not met. Matthew Driscoll, the state Thruway Authority’s acting executive
director, told the Journal News in January that the completion date would likely be toward the end of this year
(https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/tappan-zee-bridge/2018/01/19/cold-weather-halts-work-gov-mario-m-cuomo-bridge-until-
march/1049579001/). The project utilizes a process known as design-build, which bundles the planning and construction phases into one for a
potentially speedier and more ef cient process. Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced that the debris from the old Tappan Zee will be put
to good use in six arti cial reefs (https://www.newsday.com/long-island/state-to-spend-5m-to-expand-6-arti cial-reefs-off-li-1.18112100)
around Long Island, which would also save money compared to sending the debris to a salvage yard.
LaGuardia Airport
The renovation of LaGuardia Airport began (https://www.amny.com/transit/laguardia-airport-construction-explained-renovation-plans-
timeline-funding-and-more-1.12268455) in June 2016 with an expected completion date of 2021 and total cost of $8 billion. The construction
will constitute a complete overhaul of the airport, which former Vice President Joe Biden famously described as like something out of a Third
World country (https://www.theverge.com/2014/2/6/5387148/joe-biden-laguardia-airport-third-world-country). The rst portion involves
completely replacing Terminal B with a new central terminal, an undertaking Cuomo has called the largest public-private partnership in the

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New York City (/article-tags/new-york-city) New York State (/article-tags/new-york-state)
U.S. The second half will connect Terminals C and D with the newly constructed Terminal B. The project will also include an AirTrain line
between LaGuardia and the Mets - Willets Point No. 7 subway station. Since the start of construction, the new Terminal B parking garage was
completed (https://www.laguardiacentral.com/construction-updates). The project also hit a milestone on March 26 when the nal piece of
steel was installed at the new main terminal.
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
The $1.7 billion project to repair a one and a half mile stretch of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway was announced in 2016, but the repairs
have not started. The expressway has long suffered from crumbling infrastructure that, without speedy repairs, transportation of cials have
said the road will become so unstable that, to avoid its collapse, they will need to ban trucks (https://nypost.com/2017/12/11/trucks-may-
soon-be-banned-from-parts-of-the-bqe/) from using it. As part of the state budget, the state Legislature recently approved the project to use
design-build (https://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/41/14/all-design-build-bqe-approved-2018-04-06-bk.html) procurement, which will
reduce the price tag by an estimated $100 million. It would also speed up (https://bklyner.com/nys-senate-passes-bill-allowing-for-
expedited-bqe-repairs/) construction by two years, shifting the estimated end date to 2026. Hitting a 2026 deadline would avoid the need to
reroute trucks onto local streets. If all goes according to plan, construction is expected to start as early as 2021
(https://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/41/14/all-design-build-bqe-approved-2018-04-06-bk.html), rather than in 2023
(https://gallery.mailchimp.com/5e87d4e834ec99c5c5808ee96/images/fa46731e-00c5-45fe-a2dc-0702706b24db.jpg) without design-build.
Long Island Sound link
The idea for a connector between Long Island and either Westchester County or Connecticut over (or under) the Long Island Sound has been
thrown around for decades, dating back to at least 1957, though every proposal has ultimately failed. The proposal was revisited in January
when the Montreal consulting rm WSP released a study (https://www.newsday.com/business/long-island-sound-bridge-tunnel-1.16008261)
commissioned by the state that examined multiple possibilities for a bridge or tunnel across the Long Island Sound. It concluded the project
could cost as much as $55.4 billion and could only originate from Oyster Bay or Kings Park on Long Island. The study looked at nine different
proposals and decided that ve were worth further examination, with some connecting to Connecticut and others connecting to Westchester.
It also suggested that state look into bridge/tunnel combinations, although Cuomo has only committed to the idea of a tunnel. Local of cials
strongly oppose (https://www.newsday.com/long-island/rally-against-long-island-sound-tunnel-1.17021093) the project, citing
environmental concerns.
Syracuse’s I-81
The state Department of Transportation rst started looking at the best way to repair or replace a 1.4-mile section of Interstate 81 in Syracuse
in 2008 (https://www.dot.ny.gov/i81opportunities/history), with the initial study ending in 2013. Cuomo has repeatedly looked at building a
tunnel to replace the aging viaduct that currently exists, despite the transportation department rejecting
(http://www.newyorkupstate.com/central-ny/2016/12/what_were_the_3_tunnel_options_the_dot_rejected_for_replacing_syracuses_i-81.html)
the idea and opposition from community members
(http://www.syracuse.com/opinion/index.ssf/2018/01/cuomo_syracuse_interstate_81_delay_step_on_the_gas_editorial.html) and local leaders
like then-Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner (http://dailyorange.com/2017/12/syracuse-mayor-stephanie-miner-urges-state-of cials-not-
consider-81-tunnel-option/). Cuomo ordered a new study to examine the possibility of a tunnel, which concluded
(http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2017/12/long-awaited_study_i-81_tunnel_feasible_but_costly.html) late last year, that said while a
tunnel is technically feasible, it would cost up to $4.5 billion and take as long as 10 years to construct. Two other possibilities would be far
cheaper, according to the study. Rebuilding the viaduct would cost $1.7 billion, while another option to reroute traf c onto the existing city
street grid and use I-481 for through traf c would cost $1.3 billion. Still, Cuomo instructed the department earlier this year to include a
tunnel option in the project’s environmental impact statement (http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2018/01/gov_cuomo_keeps_i-
81_tunnel_option_alive.html).
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Rebecca C. Lewis
@_rebeccaclewis (https://twitter.com/_rebeccaclewis)
is an editorial assistant at City & State.

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3 Comments Sort by
Patrick Valentino · Board of Directors at Community Housing Partnership
Except for the 7 train connector to LGA (and the renovation at LGA) these are all car focussed projects. Without public transit, transportation fails
Like · Reply · 1w
Eugene Falik
I believe that the Tappan Zee Bridge is planned to carry aril, or light rail. And it certainly carries buses.
The LI Sound link is, as yet, completely unnassigned in terms of use.
Like · Reply · 1w
Eugene Falik
The terrible shame is that despit the BILLIONS that the MTA has made disappear, it is still generally quicker to drive to midtown Manhattan from Queens
than use mass transit.
And still no plans for QueensRail, an under $1 billion project that would provide a 30 minute trip between midtown and JFK or the Acqueduct casino, or a
fifty minute trip to the beaches.
Like · Reply · 1w
Scarlet McCall · Works at Self-employed
Don't we need another bridge or tunnel connecting New Jersey and New York?
Like · Reply · 1d
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