The crumbling Farley Bridge on Route 9W used by thousands of motorists each day is scheduled to close Wednesday for six months.

Stony Point Supervisor Phil Marino is glad this day has come. The deteriorating structure was placed on the state's top priority list for replacement and since last summer could only handle one lane of traffic at a time.

"Dynamite sticks will be used to blow it out of here before the end of April," Marino says.

However, local business owners are worried that the closure of the bridge would drive customers away.

"It's going to hurt everybody," says Phil Laquidara, the owner of Shell Ann Printing. "But I understand the bridge definitely has to be replaced, so we all just have to bite down and hopefully it goes as quickly as they say it will."

Commuters are also weary of the looming changes.

"I work in Congers so I got to come through here every day, and now they are closing so it's going to be a real headache," says Curtis Shaw, of Cornwall.

Destruction of the Farley Bridge is tentatively scheduled for next Thursday. Officials say if construction goes according to plan, they hope to have the new bridge by December.