Colby Hamilton, Writer, WNYC News
Colby Hamilton is a general assignment reporter. He originally joined WNYC as a political blogger. He's a proud graduate of the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.
President Obama approves fast-track repair review for Tappan Zee Bridge
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 - 11:01 AM
It looks like Governor Andrew Cuomo's lobbying efforts paid off.
City Hall News reported this morning that Cuomo was pressing the Obama administration to make the deteriorating bridge one of fourteen national fast-tracked public infrastructure projects approved by the Federal government. Cuomo reportedly sent one of his top aides to Washington to make the governor's case for the Tappan Zee's selection.
"This is a shot in the arm for the project and a major step forward to restoring this key piece of our infrastructure and putting tens of thousands of New Yorkers back to work," Cuomo said in a statement announcing the approval.
The governor's office said repairs to the bridge could begin as early as next year. Both Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver were quoted in the release, offering bipartisan support for the project which will cost the cash-strapped state tens of billions in repairs.
Just how the governor is planning on paying for the program was not mentioned in the announcement.
More in:
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Comments [1]
I would like to know if the Tappan Zee Bridge work will be done by American Companies and American Workers. Thank you, L. Giacino
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