A 50-foot-long barge that broke loose from its mooring and drifted for nearly a mile has become the latest example of the growing danger on the Hudson River during the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement project.

The Coast Guard has established special zones around the Tappan Zee Bridge so it soon can restrict boat traffic as a new span is built and conditions become more dangerous. The “regulated navigation area” will extend 300 yards north and 200 yards south of the existing 3-mile bridge,

Zugibe says state police are conducting the tests in their lab and the process is still not complete. Zugibe adds that despite public pressure to file an indictment, his office is not rushing the case along, insisting they're being very thorough to ensure their investigation is fair to all parties involved

Boat crash victims' families talk about lighthouse...: Carol Stewart-Kosik and Ray Lennon talk with Journal News reporter Shawn Cohen about the formation of a lighthouse memorial to honor Hudson River boat crash victims Lindsey Stewart and Mark Lennon. Video by Shawn Cohen

Michael Hortens, 63, a Nyack resident and sailboat owner wrote to a Nyack official prior to last week'sf atal accident to express concern that the barges near the Tappan Zee Bridge were difficult to see at night. (Video by John Meore/TheJournal News)

Listen to a 13 minute audio of emergency responders launching the search and rescue on July 26, 2013 after a power boat collided with a barge near the Tappan Zee Bridge. Source: radioreference.com; edited by Hoa Nguyen