The new Cementon–Northampton Bridge, carrying state Route 329 over the Lehigh River, was opened to traffic the evening of Dec. 11, following a weekend closure that began Dec. 9.

Crews worked night and day over the weekend to pave the roadway approaches on both sides of the bridge and to paint lane lines and railroad crossing markings. Norfolk Southern Railroad crews relocated the crossing gates on 21st Street in Northampton to align with the new roadway approach, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials said.

While vehicles are now using the structure, the bridge surface is not yet finished. A polyester polymer concrete overlay is scheduled to be applied in spring, once temperatures remain consistently above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. This work is intended to protect the deck and provide a smoother driving surface.

The bridge’s pedestrian walkway also remains incomplete. Foot traffic continues on the sidewalk of the old bridge until the new walkway is finished, currently expected in a few weeks.

The opening drew mixed reactions from early users. Some praised the new surface, while others said the bridge still feels unfinished and described the paved approaches as uneven.

PennDOT previously projected the new bridge would open to traffic in early 2027. The agency said the overall project remains on budget at just more than $22 million and is scheduled for final completion, including demolition and removal of the existing bridge, in 2028. The existing 575-foot, four-span bridge, built by Whitaker and Diehl in 1933, was deemed insufficient for future traffic volumes.

The replacement bridge features two traffic lanes and a 10-foot-wide sidewalk to accommodate pedestrians and the D&L Trail crossing, along with an unfinished terrace beneath the structure on the Cementon side. If the walking trail is extended from Coplay to Cementon, the new terrace is expected to allow pedestrians to avoid crossing Route 329.