According to information received April 21 from PennDOT, contractor Trumbull Corp. has notified the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission construction work to replace the Turnpike bridge in Emerald is scheduled to begin the week of April 27, weather permitting.

The contractor will first establish the work zone by installing temporary concrete barrier along the shoulder on I-476 between milepost A68 – A69.2. This will be nighttime construction work using single-lane traffic patterns to be followed by mobile operations to install traffic control devices. The speed limit will be posted at 55 mph through the work zone.

The existing structure will be replaced using staged construction to maintain two-lanes of traffic on the Turnpike for the duration of the project scheduled through fall 2017.

In December 2013, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission awarded a $34.3 million contract to Trumbull Corp. of Pittsburgh, the low-bidder for a design and build project to replace the Emerald Bridge, which carries Turnpike traffic over Main Street and Trout Creek in Washington Township.

A portion of the work to remove and replace the overhead structures will affect local traffic on Main, Franklin, Center and East Grant streets.

Typical work hours will be Monday-Saturday from 6 a.m.-11 p.m., job conditions could dictate additional days and shifts.

Periodically, the Main Street bridge underpass will be closed and traffic detoured. Traffic will be directed to use a planned and posted detour route over Smith Hill Road, Friedens Road, State Route 873 and West Church Street.

Any detours will be kept to summer months and weekends in an effort to minimize impacts to the Northern Lehigh School District.

Message boards will be activated to alert travelers to any closure.

Additionally, a portion of the Slate Heritage Trail will remain closed from Center Street to the trail bridge crossing which is approximately 90 feet to the east of the Turnpike.