At a News 12-sponsored town hall meeting on June 28, Larry Schwartz, Governor Cuomo’s chief of staff and new point person for the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement project said of the bridge: “It is old. It is congested. It is unsafe.”

While Schwartz’s claims seem to suggest an urgent need to replace the Tappan Zee immediately, his statement represents an abrupt about-face from the Cuomo administration. Here’s a sampling of statements that the administration has made in the past few months, all unequivocally asserting that the bridge is safe:

• Tom Madison, executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority: “The bridge that we’re looking at out the window here was built in 1956. It was designed to last 45 to 50 years, so it’s really reaching the conclusion of its useful life today. It’s still perfectly safe, and we’ve been keeping up with the maintenance and repair on the structure, but the next bridge that crosses the Hudson at this location is going to be designed for 100 year(s) plus and will have the latest technologies and facilities.”
• Joan McDonald, commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT): “It [the Tappan Zee Bridge] is safe.”
• Mike Anderson, head project engineer at NYSDOT: “While the current bridge is safe, it falls short of current engineering standards. Due to its aging condition, advanced deterioration has caused the need for extensive repairs and projections for future needs are very significant.”
• Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 1, pg. 1-4: “An extensive and costly maintenance and capital program has been required to keep the Tappan Zee Bridge’s structural elements in a state of good repair.”

In addition, documents predating the current administration also found the bridge to be safe:

• Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 Corridor Project FAQs: “Q4 – Is the Tappan Zee Bridge safe? A – Yes, the Tappan Zee Bridge is safe. The New York State Thruway Authority operates a regular program of scheduled maintenance designed specifically to ensure that the bridge is safe for travel. The bridge also receives a detailed inspection every two years by qualified engineers.”
• Thruway Authority Tappan Zee Bridge Deck Replacement Project FAQs: “Q – Is the bridge safe? A – Absolutely the Tappan Zee Bridge is safe. The New York State Thruway Authority follows a very stringent and thorough Bridge Inspection Program, as mandated by current Federal and State guidelines, and will continue to do so. Every two years, the Tappan Zee Bridge undergoes an inspection. In addition, interim inspections are conducted on the Tappan Zee Bridge to ensure that the bridge is maintained and operated safely and efficiently.”

There is little disagreement that the existing bridge is beyond its useful life and must be replaced. Recent comments made by various state officials about the bridge’s safety are important and necessary to allay concerns of those crossing the bridge, but Mr. Schwartz’s recent comment undermines this assurance. It is important that the state deliver a consistent message on the bridge’s safety moving forward. The public’s legitimate concerns over the aging bridge should not be used to bolster a fabricated sense of urgency that the bridge project must move forward expediently because “it is unsafe.”