TAPPEN ZEE BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION FELIX BURGOS {1-Shot} {ANCHOR} RESIDENTS WERE BOTH HAPPY AND UNSURE AFTER

TODAYS TOWN HALL MEETING AS THEY SAW FUTURE PLANS FOR THE TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE. NEW YORK STATE HAS LABELED IT AS STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT, AND NOW THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS FINALLY STEPPING INFELIX BURGOS WITH MORE FROM NYACK. {PKG} FELIX: ITS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND TODAY RESIDENTS OF NYACK FINALLY RECEIVED SOME ANSWERS. PLANS WERE UNVEILED FOR THE NEW TAPPEN ZEE BRIDGE BUT SOME RESIDENTS WERE SKEPTICAL ABOUT WHATS TO COME. {NAT} <legislators debating on future of bridge> {SOT} FELIX: AFTER THE MEETING I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH A FEW RESIDENTS: <Resident 1: Although this is something that is severely needed, the plan unveiled by the Department of Transportation seemed costly and unfeasible, plus they overlooked the fact that they would have to find a way to divert 133,000 cars daily across other Hudson River crossings.> {SOT} FELIX: EVEN THOUGHT PEOPLE ARENT AGREEING WITH THE FINANCIALS OF THE PLAN, THEY ALL DO BELIEVE THE BRIDGE IS IN DIRE NEEDS OF REPAIRS. <Resident 2: I drive across the bridge every

TAKE PKG [CG: Lower Third News12 Graphic] MS: Felix in front of town hall WS: Town Hall meeting showing new plans MS: Residents asking question at meeting MS: Legislators speaking about the bridge

[CG: Local Nyack Resident Danny Duenas] :20-:25 CU: Local resident being interviewed WS: Other Hudson River crossings

MS: Cars driving on the TZ Bridge CU: Rust on bolts on bridge, and uneven road surfaces

TS: Taylor Hetherington being interviewed

TS: Frank Smith being interviewed

day, and every single time I say a prayer.> <Resident 3: You think about some of the recent bridge disasters that have happened across the country and you have the thought in the back of your mind that that could be you one day> {SOT} FELIX: LOCAL RESIDENT FRANK SMITH BROUGHT UP A VALID POINT. OVER THE LAST DECADE THERE HAVE BEEN AN ALARMING NUMBER OF BRIDGE DISASTERS IN THE US, SOME OF WHICH INCLUDE THE INTERSTATE 70 HIGHWAY COLLAPSE IN MINNESOTA WHICH KILLED 13 AND QUEEN ISABELLA CAUSEWAY COLLAPSE WHICH KILLED EIGHT IN TEXAS. {SOT} FELIX: WHEN I CONFRONTED DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SPOKESPERSON JOAN MCDONALD ABOUT THE TIMING OF CONSTRUCTION.. <Joan McDonald: We have decided to go forward with this plan because its time for a new bridge, not because of the recent bridge disasters around the country.> {SOT} FELIX: IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE WAS BUILT 55 YEARS AGO DURING THE KOREAN WAR WHICH WAS TIME THAT FACED CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL SHORTAGES. ALSO WHEN IT FIRST OPENED ENGINEERS SAID IT WOULD LAST 50 YEARS, AND ITS CURRENTLY IN ITS 55TH. {NAT} <Companies delivering construction materials> {SOT} FELIX: MAYOR RICHARD KAVESH WAS ALSO IN TONIGHTS ATTENDNACE

WS: Tappan Zee Bridge MS: Video Footage of I-70 disaster in Minnesota [CG: Queen Isabella, Texas] 1:10- 1:13 WS: CG of Queen Isabella Causeway disaster

MS: J. McDonald speaking during the Town Hall Meeting WS: DOTs office in Albany CU: Joan McDonald Interview

MS: Felix in front of Town Hall TS: Stock video of Korean War WS: Construction of the Tappan Zee Bridge CU: Engineers examining official records for the Tappan Zee Bridge

MS: Richard Kavesh opening statements at Town Hall meeting

CU: Richard Kavesh interview

WS: Helicopter over Tappan Zee Bridge CU: Felix Burgos Outside Town Hall

<Richard Kavesh: Although this is going to be one of the more difficult projects Im facing, Im positive that with the right people, construction crews and help, the New Tappan Zee Bridge will be successful and will contribute jobs to a down economy.> {SOT} FELIX: WITH NEWS 12 LIVE FROM NYACK, IM FELIX BURGOS, BACK TO YOU GARY. {ANCHOR TAG} THE NEW TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE IS SLATED FOR CONSTRUCTION IN 2013 AT A COST OF ABOUT 6.4 BILLION DOLLARS. AS ALWAYS RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE NEXT TOWN HALL MEETING WHICH IS DEC, 16, 2011.

{1-SHOT}

TRT: 2:30