Unseasonably warm weather is helping fuel progress on the construction of the new Tappan Zee Bridge.

Last year at this time it was very cold, and eventually it was too dangerous for crews to work out on the water, shutting down work for weeks.

The warm weather has allowed work to enter a new phase with the installation of concrete road deck panels near the Rockland shoreline yesterday.

Nearly 6,000 panels will be installed for the new $3.9 billion bridge's approach spans. Huge cranes will lift the deck segments into place atop of the blue steel girders that have gone up over the summer.

The work does mean road closures in some areas. River Road and Piermont Avenue will be reduced to one lane during weekdays. Flag persons are stationed to help keep traffic moving by alternating the directional flow between north and south. Periodically they will need to hold traffic for six-minute intervals to enable the safe movement of those deck panels and other materials