tappan zee bridge

bridge stories

For many years, residents of Rockland and Westchester counties argued the pros and cons of a Hudson River crossing between Nyack and Tarrytown. During this time, local and global events – including World War II, the Korean War, the spreading impact of the automobile on American life and advances in engineering technology, would help shape the debate about a bridge across the Hudson River at one of its widest points. In Bridge Stories, we present excerpts from moments in history in which advocates and protesters, local residents and bridge workers, talk about the impact the Tappan Zee Bridge and the New York State Thruway – both good and bad – had on their lives and their communities. You can go back in time and hear or read the actual oral histories under the Recollections section.