Bridge-watchers following the daily progress in the construction of the Hokendauqua Bridge project won't have to brave the cold winter weather to observe the action, as work to construct the bridge's deck will not take place until the spring.

The last section of the old steel grate bridge has been removed. However, no plans are in place for trucks to bring in huge steel beams for the bridge's deck, which crosses the Lehigh River.

"It will be sometime next spring that steel will be arriving on the site," Lehigh County Director of General Services Glenn Solt told The Press.

Work by construction crews is currently ongoing to build the new bridge's foundation and piers.

With the two smaller bridges on the Hokendauqua side in Whitehall Township and the large steel grate bridge demolished, work is proceeding on the new alignment, which is designed to improve sight lines.

The new bridge will have a concrete deck instead of the steel-grate surface of the old bridge.

Asked if the project is on schedule for completion in 2014, Solt said, "The new bridge should be completed in November or December of 2014."

Immediately after the bridge is finished, work will proceed on replacing the Coplay-Northampton Bridge, which is another two-year project.

Motorists will be detoured to bridges north or south of the Coplay-Northampton Bridge, including the new Hokendauqua Bridge, which will bring heavy traffic into North Catasauqua.