South Nyack to Vote on TZ Bridge Noise Abatement Tuesday Night

South Nyack residents who are concerned about excessive noise from a new Tappan Zee Bridge and an updated Thruway will have a chance to sound off, and vote, Tuesday night.

Whether or not a sound barrier will be constructed is up to about 160 South Nyack residents living within a certain proximity to the roadway, officials said.

Representatives from three government agencies—the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)—will begin polling homeowners Tuesday, May 16 following a public workshop.

Residents able to vote are those "that would receive at least a five decibel reduction in noise as a result of the proposed noise barriers," said Michael Anderson of NYSDOT. All affected residents were mailed notices.

The workshop is slated to focus on traffic noise generation and the likely location of the barriers.

Ballots will also be available at the workshop—set for 6 p.m. at Nyack's —and voting will continue until Thursday, May 24.

Officials noted in the letter to residents that their vote will be final.

"If the majority elects not to have a noise barrier built as part of the new bridge construction, the barrier will be deemed 'unreasonable,' and it will not be  possible to change that decision in the future as part of this project," Anderson wrote.

A similar workshop will be held held Wednesday evening across the Hudson in Tarrytown.

Last month, residents of the Salisbury Point Cooperative in South Nyack —and possible ways to prevent it being constructed. The non-profit organization Riverkeeper said it is if the project does not respect the Hudson's environment.

and driving test piles into the river's floor, a noisy process that has some South Nyack residents irked.

"The Trustees are deeply concerned about the disturbance this activity imposes on our community. We continue to push the state to minimize the impacts on our residents," said mayor Trish DuBow. "There was even a report of someone who was hiking on Hook Mountain and heard the noise."

The next set of test pile driving is slated for Tuesday afternoon.

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The details

When: Tuesday, May 16; 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where: Best Western, 26 Route 59, Nyack

For more info: Residents with question or comments can contact Anderson at TPZBarrierInfo@gmail.com or (877) 892-3685.