The Latest: Engineers: New bridge span can open Tuesday

NYACK, N.Y. – The Latest on the opening of the new Hudson bridge span (all times local):

Engineers have recommended that a span of a new bridge named after Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s father can open for traffic Tuesday evening, weather permitting.

The second span of the new Mario M. Cuomo Bridge over the Hudson River was supposed to open to traffic on Saturday, but workers disassembling the nearby Tappan Zee Bridge discovered it had destabilized and could fall, potentially hitting the new span.

Tappan Zee Constructors released a statement Sunday evening saying that after careful evaluation it was determined the old Tappan Zee Bridge anchor span is damaged but stable and does not threaten the new bridge.

Cuomo’s opponents in the campaign for governor had questioned whether the new bridge opening was accelerated for political reasons.

Cuomo said the situation had nothing to do with the new span.

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3:30 p.m.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says a span of a new bridge named for his father won’t open until engineers have finished their analysis of the nearby bridge it replaced over safety concerns.

The second span of the new Mario M. Cuomo Bridge over the Hudson River was supposed to open to traffic on Saturday, with the Democratic governor and others holding a ceremony on Friday.

But workers disassembling the nearby Tappan Zee Bridge on Friday discovered it had destabilized and there were concerns it could fall, potentially hitting the new span.

Cuomo’s opponents in the campaign for governor questioned whether the new bridge opening was accelerated for political reasons.

Cuomo said the situation had nothing to do with the new span.

Cuomo on Sunday called the timing a “bizarre coincidence.”