The Tappan Zee Bridge carries 7 lanes of traffic for I-87 and I-287 over the Hudson River, connecting Rockland and Westchester Counties. For political and jurisdictional reasons, the 1955 cantilever bridge was built across the second-widest point of the Hudson River, over the three-mile wide Tappan Zee. Its opening made it possible for commuters to travel by road from Rockland County to Manhattan, some 25 miles south of the bridge. The influx of commuters caused Rockland County to increase in population by 258% between 1950 and 1970. Plans are underway to replace the bridge with a new one that will also carry rail traffic.
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