Officials, Residents Meet Over TZ Bridge Concerns (VIDEO)

While some in Rockland are worried about the new Tappan Zee Bridge's lack of mass transit, for others, the $5.2 billion span brings problems, literally, to their doorsteps.

Cathy McCue is president of the Salisbury Point Cooperative in South Nyack, a 5.5-acre, 120-apartment 170-person complex that rests on the banks of the Hudson River—and at the foot of the current span.

Residents are concerned with the new Tappan Zee Bridge construction’s impact on their lives, such as pollution, health, noise and other issues.

At a meeting on Saturday, residents voiced their concerns with elected officials. The residents had met with South Nyack Mayor Patricia DuBow in the past, so they invited Nyack Mayor Jen Laird-White to come, as well as Congresswoman Nita Lowey.

“We need to be working together in a positive manner to encourage the state to help us with this,” said Laird-White

“I understand that there is a real concern about quality of life. I’m hoping that we can work together to ameliorate the difficulties, the noise, the impact on this magnificent place,” said Lowey. “I’m here to listen and see what we can do to be helpful.”

With the changes in the election district lines, Lowey will represent Rockland County if she wins in the November election against Joe Carvin and Frank Morganthaler.

“(Lowey) told us that she has the opportunity to bring about $1,000,000 to the area with help of relief to people living here under the construction,” said McCue.

“I said I will check into the million dollars that was left over from another project that I had funded and see if we can get it dedicated or part of it dedicated to help mitigate the impact on this beautiful community,” said Lowey. “What I intend to do is work with the thruway authority, work with the governor, work with others like larry and connabear … to just get a time frame as to when we can get these things done because I just think it’s fair.”

“I’m concerned about what this will mean for our quality of life … (one) concern is noise,” said McCue. “There is going to be a multiple-acre staging area constructed adjacent to our southern side of the property. This staging area will hold all types of equipment … that run on diesel fuel.”

McCue cited from World Health Organization studies that “diesel particulate air pollutants as being a major contributor to lung cancer and affiliated bladder cancer and is particularly hazardous to young children, the frail and the elderly. We have asked for protection from both phases of construction, due to noise, vibration, air quality, dust, dirt, rodents, visual impacts to our views, our security and the effects of the project on our outdoor recreation facilities.”

The cooperative has hired two consultants, a civil engineer and an acoustic engineer.

Check back with Patch for more details on this meeting

Related Articles:

• South Nyack to Vote on TZ Bridge Noise Abatement Tuesday Night
• 'We Are the Victims': Salisbury Point Residents Wary of New TZ Bridge
• South Nyack Seeks Harmony with New TZ Bridge