Now that spring is finally here, the "I Lift New York Super Crane" got back to work on the new Tappan Zee Bridge Friday.

The super crane, that is one of the world's largest floating cranes, will play a major role in the construction of the new $3.2 billion bridge.

The crane made a 6,000-mile journey from San Francisco through the Panama Canal and arrived in the Hudson Valley this past fall. It sits on a 384-foot barge and is strong enough to lift 1,900 tons at a time.

Engineers say that the super crane will allow crews to set an entire span of super structure at one time. They say being able to build components of the bridge out on the water rather than on land makes a big difference in the building process.

"Working on the water is one of the challenges of a project like this," said National Bridge Chief Engineer Ted Zoli. "A crane allows you to pick up large elements in single picks, which really makes a big difference in terms of your ability to deliver a project on a tight schedule."

State officials say crews will use the crane to lift sections of the new bridge that weighs 900-1,100 tons and get it all into place. The crane will also be used to demolish the existing bridge.