<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Statistics </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Daily traffic </Th> <Td> 138,000 + (2011 est) </Td> </Tr> <P> The New Tappan Zee Bridge, also known as the New NY Bridge and officially named the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge after the late former governor Mario Cuomo, is a twin cable - stayed bridge being built to replace the current original Tappan Zee Bridge over New York's Hudson River . The new bridges are to the north of and roughly parallels the existing Tappan Zee Bridge, and cross the Hudson River at east - to - west direction . In the final configuration, the north span will carry the northbound traffic of I - 87, westbound traffic of I - 287, and a bicycle / pedestrian path, with the south span that will carry southbound and eastbound traffic of I - 87 and I - 287, respectively . Construction began in 2013, and at 1: 36 A.M. on August 26, 2017, the north span officially opened to westbound traffic . Eastbound traffic is expected to be switched onto the same span on October 6, 2017 at which time the old bridge will be decommissioned and demolished . Both spans are expected to be operational by June 15, 2018 . </P> <P> The original Tappan Zee Bridge is a cantilever bridge built during 1952--1955 . The bridge is 3 miles (4.8 km) long and spans the Hudson at its second - widest point . The Tappan Zee river crossing was named by 17th century Dutch settlers . The Tappan Zee Bridge, along with the smaller Bear Mountain Bridge, are the only crossings of the Tappan Zee, a 33 - mile (53 km) stretch of river that passes through New York City's populous northern suburbs . </P>

When will the tappan zee bridge be finished