Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that crews are working on a $19.4 million project to rehabilitate two aging bridges on the thruway in Suffern.

Village Mayor Michael Curley shared how important the project is for the community.

"It's a major, major project," Curley said. "We don't want them to fall down."

Officials said the bridges are located between exit 14b and exit 15.

Both were built back in the 1950's.

The project was inspired by an inspection, according to the village's director of public works, Charles Sawicki.

"When they found that they are not up to proper code, they put a design package together and they had the restoration work, which they're doing right now," Sawicki said.

State officials said crews are doing structural repairs and replacing a concrete deck on the bridge over Route 202. Crews are also building new joints on the bridge over the Mahwah River.

"I mean my dad's a bridge engineer, and so I've actually seen a lot of the state of bridges in the area and they could use work," one driver said.

"I think the government should have been repairing these bridges a long time ago," driver Candela Rodriguez said.

Officials said the project is scheduled to be completed in fall 2026.

Sawicki said the ongoing work could lead to some road closures.

"There will be a detour down Cross Street and then down 202," Sawicki said.

According to Sawicki, most of the work will be done in the evening.