Tappan Zee Bridge replacement to be named after Mario Cuomo

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- New York is naming its newest bridge after the late Gov. Mario Cuomo.

The former governor's son, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, on Thursday signed into law a bill naming the new Tappan Zee Bridge the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.

The elder Cuomo was a Democrat who served as governor from 1983 to 1994 and was often mentioned as a possible White House contender.

Andrew Cuomo, also a Democrat, said his father supported naming big structures after past leaders, but would have been very uncomfortable with the honor being bestowed on him.

The current governor pushed to build the new bridge to replace the current, aging Hudson River crossing, formally named the Gov. Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge.

The $4 billion span is set to open later this year.