The New York State Bridge Authority's oldest span is getting some upgrades.

The Bear Mountain Bridge which carries Routes 6, 202 and The Appalachian Trail over The Hudson River, opened on Thanksgiving Day in 1924. At the time it was the longest suspended span in the world.

The first of several scheduled public meetings on the upgrade project was held Thursday evening at the public library in Garrison.

Bridge Authority officials say the plan is to replace the aging bridge deck, upgrade concrete barriers, widen sidewalks and improve accessibility.

The 2,255-foot-long span not only serves millions of vehicles each year but also pedestrians and cyclists, and planners say at least one pedestrian sidewalk will remain open during construction.

Another upgrade includes building climb deterrent fencing -- people at Thursday night's meeting stressed the importance of installing more devices to prevent suicides.

More public meetings are planned before construction begins, state officials say the work is expected to start in early 2026 and the project completed by the fall of 2027.