Tappan Zee Bridge Lane Closures To Snag Weekend Traffic

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Drivers heading to the north out of New York City this weekend may run into trouble, with only one northbound lane open on the Tappan Zee Bridge.

As CBS2's Lou Young reported, a triple-lane closure on the northbound lanes of the bridge was set to start at 9 p.m. Friday and continue until 2 p.m. Saturday.

A repeat closure will take place on Saturday night into Sunday, and periodic shutdowns of all northbound lanes will continue for 10-minute periods throughout the weekend.

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"It's going to be hell out there," said Torey Britt of Nyack. "What am I going to do? Stay home."

Traffic over the bridge is never easy on weekends, especially with all the construction of the new bridge going on to distract drivers.

In fact, it is that very construction that is prompting the lane closures. Pile driver work on the Rockland shore has simply come too close to the northbound lanes of the old bridge.

"It's an inconvenience for a couple of days, but it's got to be done if we want to get a new bridge," said Bob Walsh of Tarrytown.

"Three lanes closed with all the amount of traffic we get, and the truck traffic?" said Dave Signor of Elmsford. "It's going to be a mess."

But there aren't too many alternatives.

"What can you do?" said Susan Cotton of Upper Nyack. "Swim?"

The other alternative crossings are the George Washington Bridge to the south – which is always a gamble – and the Bear Mountain Bridge to the north, which is fairly small. Thus, major delays were expected on the Tappan Zee over the weekend, backing up onto the local roads as well.