8. World War II Military Technology May Have Been Used to Build the Original Bridge

Original Tappan Zee bridge. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

After Governor Dewey spent months intensely fighting for the thruway project and getting the Port Authority to drop their alternative proposal, he remained largely vague on the details behind the cost and construction of the bridge. In a New York Times article published May 12, 1950, Dewey had “refused to enlarge on his announcement and cautioned against the speculation of the cost or type of bridge” the Tappan Zee would be.

However, he did give an impression that new engineering technology from World War II would be utilized. There was no elaboration and promised to give more concrete details in 60 days. The promises of using WWII engineering would not go completely abandoned as you will read in one of our upcoming secrets.