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Meet Chelsea From New City, First Driver To Cross New TZB

Chelsea Leigh of New City said it was "just crazy luck" that she was the first person to drive across the new Tappan Zee Bridge early Saturday morning.

Chelsea Leigh of New City was the first person to drive across the new Tappan Zee Bridge.

Chelsea Leigh of New City was the first person to drive across the new Tappan Zee Bridge.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Workers on the new Tappan Zee Bridge.

Workers on the new Tappan Zee Bridge.

Photo Credit: Jeanne Muchnick
Dignitaries at the new Tappan Zee Bridge ceremony.

Dignitaries at the new Tappan Zee Bridge ceremony.

Photo Credit: Jeanne Muchnick

Having just gotten off of work as a police officer with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Leigh said she was just cruising home around 1:30 a.m. when she was stopped along the bridge by New York State troopers. 

She said she sat in traffic for about 15 minutes while workers were moving cones and then a trooper told her she was the lucky one to be the first person to drive across.

"I couldn't believe that I was the first person," she said. "I wasn't even thinking about it when I was driving home from work."

Leigh said the lights on the bridge are "really cool," and the pavement was so smooth compared to the old bridge. 

"It will be nice once the two bridges are separate and will hopefully help with traffic," she added.

She was too busy driving and checking out the new bridge to get a photo.

But, according to Leigh, that's OK because it was "definitely cool" being the first person across the new bridge and something she will never forget. 

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