Rick Molchany, Lehigh County director of general services, said the ongoing construction of the Coplay-Northampton Bridge is on schedule.

The concrete span in progress over the Lehigh River replaces the 1930s-era bridge, which was deemed dangerous. Motorists now use either the Cementon-Northampton Bridge or the Hokendauqua-North Catasauqua Bridge to traverse between communities on both sides of the river.

Molchany told The Press the opening of the new bridge is tentatively set to open to traffic in June of 2020. He said work on the new bridge, being built by Trumbull Corporation, Pittsburgh, continues to move forward.

Taking into account the winter season, which sometimes can have construction progress at a halt or slowdown, Molchany said when the winters are figured into the construction timetable, nearly a year overall can be lost.

The project got off to a later start than anticipated in the first year.

All the huge beams have now been delivered on both sides of the river. Northampton Borough Manager LeRoy Brobst had received a call from company personnel asking if he wanted to observe the final two beams put in position on the new bridge site. It was expected all beams would be in place before Thanksgiving.

Work on the abutments is continuing, Molchany said, along with the placement of the beam auxiliary details. In spring, the deck will be the priority.

Although there are unofficial reports the project is months ahead of completion, both Lehigh County and Trumball Corporation officials have not confirmed this. Even if the project is ahead of schedule, bad winter weather could wipe out any gains in the schedule.