Projections just released by Rick Molchany, Lehigh County director of general services, show that the Hokendauqua-North Catasauqua Bridge, under construction since late 2013, could be open to traffic as soon as October.

"That is the goal," Molchany told The Press Friday. "We are making progress."

Earlier estimates put the bridge opening in December.

Molchany said he would have more definitive information after an upcoming meeting with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and HRI Contractors.

Molchany said the pouring of the concrete deck that links the boroughs of Hokendauqua, Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, and North Catasauqua, Northampton County, has now been completed.

Work now moves to constructing the concrete walls on the two sides of the bridge. A pavement is also part of the project.

Molchany said the installation of light standards is on the agenda as well.

While the weather has been fairly cooperative, Molchany disclosed the devastating June 30 storm, accompanied by hail, caused significant damage to the freshly poured concrete deck.

"We are submitting an application with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) for $100,000 for damages to the deck," Molchany said.

Molchany said the FEMA funding will correct that damage without causing any further delays to the construction.

A ramp at Water Street in Hokendauqua still needs to be constructed, but the bridge could be opened while contractors perform that finishing work, Molchany said.

This new bridge replaces the deteriorating steel grate span that crossed over the Lehigh River.

The project was to be a two-year construction cycle, originally targeted to open last November. New dates were set for a June 2015 opening and later revised to December 2015.

An issue remains whether HRI will be assessed penalties for failing to meet construction deadlines.

The costs for the bridge, construction, engineering and other expenses comes to $20 million, Molchany calculated.