With construction of the Hokendauqua-North Catasauqua Bridge now in the first few months of its third year, Lehigh County Director of Special Projects Rick Molchany said the new span over the Lehigh River linking the two boroughs should be open to vehicle traffic in May.

In a new development, the office of state Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-18th, confirmed the bridge will be named after Lt. Col. Thomas Lynch of Catasauqua, a World War II fighter pilot. Lynch, an ace pilot with his P38 Lightning propeller plane shot down 20 or more Japanese enemy planes in the southwest sector of the Pacific Ocean.

Kurt Derr, aide to Boscola, said the state senate is on board with naming the bridge in Lynch's honor, as is PennDOT.

Molchany said Lehigh County and he personally approve.

Derr said a ceremony has not yet been finalized. The bridge will most likely bear a plaque honoring Lynch's service to his country. Lynch has family in the area, Derr said.

Unless winter delivers a devastating snowfall, Molchany said the bi-county bridge will be open in May.

"They [crews] are working right now," Molchany said, adding winter has caused no delays thus far.

Molchany said the public should soon be able to see significant progress. Massive concrete piers are already in place as are the first sections of concrete beams on both sides of the bridge. In the coming weeks, trucks carrying huge concrete beams will arrive. Once they're in place, the concrete deck will be poured and sidewalks will be laid.

The new bridge replaces the deteriorating steel grate bridge and two smaller bridges on the Whitehall Township side, near Front and Lehigh streets.

Contractor HRI Construction Co. will then move on to the 1930s Coplay-Northampton Bridge. This two-year project also will involve motorist detours.