The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council added the Tappan Zee Bridge to its list of projects eligible for federal funds in August 2012.
The United States Department of Transportation approved the plan on September 25, 2012.
The approval process took fewer than 10 months as opposed to the traditional multi-year process as a result of being placed on a "fast track" for approval by the Obama Administration.
On December 17, 2012, New York state officials dropped their proposal for a 45 percent increase on the state Thruway toll for trucks, while advancing a $3.14 billion project to replace the bridge.
The project was funded through a public-private partnership.

The new Tappan Zee Bridge was designed and built by Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) consortium of design, engineering, and construction firms including Fluor Corporation, American Bridge Company, Granite Construction Northeast and Traylor Bros. The Left Coast Lifter was used to install groups of pre-assembled girders one full span at a time.
By the end of 2013, General Electric had completed four seasons of dredging to remove contaminants from the river bottom.
Approximately 70 percent of the sediments targeted for dredging were removed (totaling more than 1,900,000 cubic yards (1,500,000 m³) of sediment).

On July 19, 2016, a crane used for the construction of the bridge collapsed onto the existing older bridge.
Five people were injured, including three drivers and two bridge workers; no one was killed or critically injured.
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council added the Tappan Zee Bridge to its list of projects eligible for federal funds in August 2012. The United States Department of Transportation approved the plan on September 25, 2012. The approval process took fewer than 10 months as opposed to the traditional multi-year process as a result of being placed on a "fast track" for approval by the Obama Administration. On December 17, 2012, New York state officials dropped their proposal for a 45 percent increase on the state Thruway toll for trucks, while advancing a $3.14 billion project to replace the bridge. The project was funded through a public-private partnership.
The new Tappan Zee Bridge was designed and built by Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) consortium of design, engineering, and construction firms including Fluor Corporation, American Bridge Company, Granite Construction Northeast and Traylor Bros. The Left Coast Lifter was used to install groups of pre-assembled girders one full span at a time. By the end of 2013, General Electric had completed four seasons of dredging to remove contaminants from the river bottom. Approximately 70 percent of the sediments targeted for dredging were removed (totaling more than 1,900,000 cubic yards (1,500,000 m³) of sediment).
On July 19, 2016, a crane used for the construction of the bridge collapsed onto the existing older bridge. Five people were injured, including three drivers and two bridge workers; no one was killed or critically injured.
Tappan Zee Bridge (2017–present)