A painter's cage came loose Tuesday, dangling dangerously close to drivers whizzing by below on the Tappan Zee Bridge.Chopper 12 was overhead during rush hour as the safety cage that surrounds workers hung over the right lanes on the Westchester-bound side. The New York State Thruway Authority says the cage was undergoing routine maintenance before the incident.

Metal plates in the right lanes also slowed traffic, backing vehicles up into Rockland County. The plates are in place as the deck is repaired. The lanes were reopened around 8 a.m. Drivers say enough is enough.

"That's quite a bump and a jar to your vehicle when you pull over it," says Luke Birkeland. "You worry about slowing down and somebody rear-ending you or your car falling apart going over them."

"I think they fixed it enough," says Ed White. "It should be replaced. There's just so many times you can fix something."

State transportation officials met in May to discuss the future of the aging structure. No decision has been made on whether to rehabilitate or rebuild the bridge.