Thruway Authority: No To 97% Of MCB Builder's Cost Overrun Claims

NYACK, NY — Tappan Zee Constructors submitted bills — and filed suit — over $960 million in cost overruns for building the Mario Cuomo Bridge, but on Wednesday the New York Thruway Authority agreed to hand over just $28 million.

The new, three-mile, two-span bridge across the Tappan Zee between Westchester and Rockland counties, with its path for pedestrians and bicyclists, cost $4 billion.

TZC, a consortium of engineering and bridge construction firms, has argued that the overruns were due to the New York State Thruway Authority making changes in the design — especially over the shared use path — plus bureaucratic delays, storms, harsh winters and a fatal tugboat crash that was out of their control. They filed one lawsuit, which is pending.

The project manager issued a determination Wednesday.

"Most of the Disputes contained in the Dispute Submission are properly denied for lack of substantive merit, failure in many cases to comply with notice and other requirements of the Contract and failure to demonstrate causation of properly calculated and supported damages," Project Director Jamey Barbas wrote in the NYSTA decision.

The contractors can appeal.

In a statement, TZC said they were "heartened" that the NYSTA had finally responded, and said they considered it a first step, The Journal News reported.