Unless hit by a blizzard, work on the new Hokendauqua-North Catasauqua Bridge, which spans the Lehigh River, will continue through the winter, according to Lehigh County Director of General Services Glenn Solt.

"We're still on track," he said Friday, noting the two-year construction schedule for the bridge aims for completion during the last quarter of 2014.

Then, Solt said, county bridge replacement project plans move to the Coplay-Northampton Bridge. Solt said work on that project should start up early 2015.

The construction cycle is two years. It includes razing the 1930s-era concrete bridge, which is showing signs of crumbling.

The new bridge surface will be wider, having sidewalks on only one side, rahter than on two sides, as it does now.

The county is involved with obtaining easements from private property owners, according to Solt.

"Bids will be let," Solt said, following agreements of easement, during the coming year. No structures are expected to be taken or razed for the project.

Regarding progress on the Hokendauqua-North Catasauqua Bridge, once spring arrives, the concrete and steel framework should rise from the pillars and piers now under construction at the site.

HRI Contracting Co., State College, Centre County, is the company awarded the $11,860,665 job. Much of the work already completed involved revision and replacement of utilities, electric, water and demolition of two small bridges on the Whitehall side as well as the large steel grate bridge.