the original tappan zee bridge was built in 1966.
the original tappan zee bridge was built in 1966.
when was the original tappan zee bridge built?
1966
the bridge was designed by emil praeger of the madigan-hyland engineering firm. captain praeger helped develop floating caissons during world war ii when the allied forces needed to create and protect portable harbors for the 1944 invasion of normandy.









































construction started in march 1952 and the bridge opened to traffic on december 15, 1955, along with a long section of the new york state thruway from suffern to yonkers. new york state governor w. averell harriman signed a bill on february 28, 1956, to officially name the structure the tappan zee bridge.
tappan zee bridge (1955–2017)
the tappan zee bridge, officially named the governor mario m. cuomo bridge after former new york governor mario cuomo, is a twin cable-stayed bridge built to replace the original tappan zee bridge over new york's hudson river between tarrytown and nyack. the new twin spans are located just north of the original tappan zee bridge, which both run east-west over the north-south river. the new bridge's north span carries the northbound and westbound automobile traffic of interstate 87 (i-87) and i-287; it will also carry a shared-use path for bicycles and pedestrians. the south span carries the southbound and eastbound automobile traffic of i-87 and i-287.
tappan zee bridge (2017–present)