A group of journalists, including News 12's John Goff, was given a boat tour of the Tappan Zee Bridge construction site on the Hudson River Thursday.

The Tappan Zee Constructors President Darrell Waters says the project remains on schedule and on budget. While their schedule remains "aggressive," they are hoping to erect the new bridge's first piece of steel at the end of the year.

The work site is a hazard for boaters, but police patrols have been increased in the area, along with warning signs and buoys. The bridge hit 1 million man hours without a reportable injury on July 15.

A large crane brought in from the West Coast for the project is getting a systems upgrade in New Jersey. It will arrive at the construction site in the fall.