A major piece of construction equipment has arrived at the new Tappan Zee Bridge site.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo was on hand to welcome the "I Lift New York" super crane to the construction site.
New York State officials say the crane, one of the world's largest floating cranes, is strong enough to lift 1,900 tons at one time. Crews will use the crane to lift sections of the new $3.9 billion span that weigh 900 to 1,100 tons. It will also be used to eventually demolish the existing bridge.
Originally christened the "Left Coast Lifter," the crane became famous for its role in a big bridge construction project in the San Francisco Bay area. The crane has been in Jersey City since January after making a 6,000-mile journey from San Francisco through the Panama Canal. It recently received a computer upgrade in preparation for its work on the new bridge.
According to Gov. Cuomo, the super crane will help the state save about $1 billion in the final cost of the new Tappan Zee Bridge.
The final cost is still not clear.
Cuomo also says the state won't be able to determine what tolls will be on the new bridge until the final cost is figured out.
The crane has one more move in store. Plans call for it to be slipped under the old bridge at low tide on Wednesday.
The crane's first job is to lift the massive steel for the new bridge. Officials with the project say the job should begin before the end of the year.