Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Ralph Goldsmith, a longtime Stony Point resident who witnessed the original dedication of Stony Point’s Farley Bridge in 1922, drove a vintage fire truck over the newly rebuilt James A. Farley Memorial Bridge.

The first phase of the project began in April with the demolition of the original 360-foot-long, 87-year-old bridge through the use of explosives. The new bridge accommodates three lanes of traffic: northbound and southbound through-lanes and a northbound, dedicated left-turn lane. The bridge also provides four-foot shoulders and sidewalks on both sides.

While the bridge has been opened to vehicular traffic and the detour has been lifted, work to complete the project continues in the construction area on Route 9W.

When completed, the new bridge will have brick-faced parapet walls with decorative pedestrian fencing mounted to the top of the parapets. Brick detailing will be incorporated into the design to match the local architecture and decorative street lighting will extends the entire length of the bridge to enhance pedestrian access and safety. The project will also incorporate bridge-approach roadway enhancements, drainage, landscaping and pavement markings.

The second and final phase of the project, planned for construction in early 2011 and expected to take a year to complete, will improve the adjoining intersection of Route 9W with Main Street in Stony Point.