With a 1929 Model A Ford Phaeton making the final 3.1-mile journey across the Hudson River, the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York City’s northern suburbs has officially closed.
Much of the fanfare that accompanied the opening of an adjacent $3.9bn twin-span named in honor of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo in August was missing Friday night when the Tappan Zee saw its final crossing, according to The Journal News.
Seth Kestenbaum was the last driver to cross the 61-year-old bridge around 10pm in the vintage Ford. He rode in a police escort.
‘If you’re first across the bridge, everyone’s going to be repeating that,’ Kestenbaum said. ‘I’m the last one to cross the bridge. I’ve got to tell you, what an honor.’
Seth Kestenbaum was the last civilian to drive a car across the old Tappan Zee Bridge connecting Westchester and Rockland counties in New York. He drove a vintage Ford
Kestanbaum (pictured with the vintage Ford) rode with a police escort on Friday night. The 61-year-old bridge has been closed and an adjacent bridge that cost $3.9bn to build has been opened in its place
Kestenbaum is pictured admiring the nighttime view of the Hudson River from the 1929 vintage Ford
Kestenbaum said: ‘I’m the last one to cross the bridge. I’ve got to tell you, what an honor’
One of the two new spans is now accommodating traffic flowing both ways between Westchester and Rockland counties in New York’s northern suburbs.
The new bridge was named for current Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo’s and CNN host Chris Cuomo’s father, who died in 2015.
That span officially opened in late August for Rockland-bound drivers.
Andrew Cuomo and other dignitaries were on hand for the ceremonial first ride across the bridge.
On Friday night, Westchester-bound traffic was quietly diverted onto the same span.
A temporary concrete divider will be used until the second span opens next year.
The new bridge project was launched by the state Thruway Authority in 2013 after decades of political squabbling. The Tappan Zee opened in 1955.
Eventually, the Thruway Authority will give away parts of the old bridge’s deck and its moveable barrier system.
Eight counties have requested some of the 150 deck panels to be salvaged for reuse in other bridges.
Pictured is a side-by-side view of the old bridge (left) and the new bridge (right). The old one was opened in 1955
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (driver) and World War II veteran Armando ‘Chick’ Gallela (passenger) rode across the new bridge named for Cuomo’s late father, former New York governor Mario Cuomo, in August 2017 as part of a dedication ceremony
Cuomo is pictured speaking during a dedication ceremony for the bridge named in his father’s honor
Pictured is a daytime view showing the old and new bridges that span the Hudson River about 25 miles north of New York City
An aerial view shows steel and concrete piers for the old Tappan Zee bridge under construction in the 1950s. The Bridge connects Nyack and Tarrytown
Pictured are cranes working over the steel and concrete piers for the under-construction Tappan Zee bridge in July 1954. The bridge was opened in December 1955
This general view looking toward the toll bridge on the Tarrytown side of the old Tappan Zee Bridge was taken on December 15, the day the $60million bridge opened
Pictured is a nighttime view of the old bridge