<P> Construction started in March 1952 and the bridge opened to traffic on December 15 , 1955 , along with a 27 - mile ( 43 km ) long section of the New York State Thruway from Suffern to Yonkers . New York State Governor W. Averell Harriman signed a bill on February 28 , 1956 , to officially name the structure the Tappan Zee Bridge . In 1994 , the name of Malcolm Wilson was added to the bridge 's name upon the 20th anniversary of his leaving the governor 's office in December 1974 , though it is almost never used when the bridge is spoken about colloquially . </P>
<P> Construction started in March 1952 and the bridge opened to traffic on December 15 , 1955 , along with a 27 - mile ( 43 km ) long section of the New York State Thruway from Suffern to Yonkers . New York State Governor W. Averell Harriman signed a bill on February 28 , 1956 , to officially name the structure the Tappan Zee Bridge . In 1994 , the name of Malcolm Wilson was added to the bridge 's name upon the 20th anniversary of his leaving the governor 's office in December 1974 , though it is almost never used when the bridge is spoken about colloquially . </P>
when was the old tappan zee bridge built
when was the old tappan zee bridge built
Construction started in March 1952 and the bridge opened to traffic on December 15 , 1955
Construction started in March 1952 and the bridge opened to traffic on December 15 , 1955