Crews have wrapped-up four years of construction on the the Turnpike's $102 million project to build four new bridges in Carbon County.

New bridges -- separate northbound and southbound spans over both the Lehigh River and the Pohopoco Creek -- are now in place and fully serving motorists between Mileposts 73 and 75 on the Turnpike's Northeastern Extension/I-476 since Fall 2011.Demolition and removal of the old bridges' steel superstructures and concrete supports, along with the connecting roadway approaching and between the two old structures, finished late last summer. Slopes on both sides of the creek that once held the bridge's abutments have been dressed and replacement wetlands were planted on the southern bank. A number of habitat features have been installed in this natural area as well. And improvements have been made to the multi-use trail that is situated on the abandoned railroad bed on the south side of the Lehigh River and Canal.The temporary causeways that were built in the stream beds to facilitate construction have been removed, restoring both the Lehigh River and Pohopoco Creek to their natural stream flows. In addition, excavation and site work for the post-construction storm water management basin, final grading of slopes along the Lehigh River and existing approaches and final seeding and stabilization of all disturbed areas within the project area have been completed.The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission thanks our customers and neighbors who utilized the project website (www.lehighbridge.com) and its subscriber services to stay current with the progress of construction and its impacts on travel over the past four years. The website and its content will remain accessible until the end of Jan. 2013.