Bids on the long-awaited construction of the new Hokendauqua-North Catasauqua Bridge will be opened Sept. 15.

Work on the two-year project should get under way by mid-December. The project will include the demolition of the steel grate bridge that spans the Lehigh River and the large vacant apartment building Lehigh County acquired earlier as part of the project.

Lehigh County Director of Capital Projects Glenn Solt said Tuesday construction bids for the estimated $13.5 million project are presently being advertised.

"We expect to award the contract for the bridge project during the first two weeks of October," Solt told The Press.

There are three bridge replacements involved, which include the steel grate bridge connecting Whitehall Township to North Catasauqua, as well as two former railroad bridges.

The bridge that runs over the Ironton Rail-Trail will be replaced by a tunnel as part of the bridge project, Solt said.

The public and motorists should see preliminary work commence much sooner than expected as UGI, the Northampton Borough Municipal Authority and PPL will have crews on the scene. UGI is already working along Water Street.

"Everything will be shut down," Solt said.

He added access via Water Street will be curtailed for the duration of the construction projects. Detour signs will be posted in many locations to help motorists reach their destinations. The nearby Coplay-Northampton and the Pine Street bridges can expect to see a marked increase in traffic due to the project.

The opening of the new Hokendauqua-North Catasuaqua Bridge is tentatively set for October 2014, Solt said, after which time the Coplay-Northampton Bridge construction project is set to begin.

"We are looking forward to getting it done," Solt said of the Hokendauqua-North Catasauqua Bridge project. "It is in dire need of replacement."