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Attention drivers in the New York area.
If you are caught causing a traffic jam you could get a fine that runs into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The company that was hired to replace the road deck on the Tappan Zee Bridge, has been hit with a heavy fine for causing a massive backup in traffic, according to press reports.
Tutor Perini Corp. was fined $235,000 by the New York State Thruway Authority for not reopening the seven lanes by 6:00 a.m. The entire bridge was not reopened until 7:30 a.m., causing a traffic backup of 15 miles that extended beyond Suffern in Rockland County.
The contract with the Thruway dictates that the two Westchester bound lanes should be open at 5:00 a.m., and four lanes open at 6:00 a.m.
The three Rockland bound lanes should be open at 7:00 a.m., Thruway officials said.
A spokesperson for the construction company said: "Tutor Perini responded to new conditions at the site, which led to the decision of closing the lanes.” The company said it plans to appeal the fine.