Motorists that need to travel over bridge 17, the covered bridge, in Lower Towamensing Township will soon be able to again.

On Thursday, Commissioners' Chairman Wayne Nothstein announced that the county hopes to have the bridge, located along Covered Bridge Road, open to vehicles Monday morning, weather pending. If weather plays a factor, the latest the bridge would open is Wednesday.He said the commissioners' action last week, which extended the deadline for renovation work on the bridge to Dec. 3, was merely a precaution because weather dictates when work is allowed to go on. But the weather cooperated, and the repairs and painting are now nearing completion.To mark the reopening, the commissioners are planning a ribbon cutting ceremony at the bridge at 9:30 a.m. on Monday. State and local officials have been invited to attend.The covered bridge project, which was completed by Professional Construction Contractors Inc. of Bethlehem at a cost of $291,126, included replacing the open grid steel deck and sandblasting and painting the bridge. The cost was covered by Act 13 bridge improvement funds and Act 44 funds.The renovation work began in late July.In other matters, Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard spoke about fuel oil and the dog shelter.With regards to the fuel oil, the commissioners on Thursday agreed to award the contract for No. 2 fuel oil and off-road diesel fuel to low bidder, K&K Oil Company LLC of Lehighton. The company bid 12 cents profit per gallon above the published Scranton OPIS price on the date of delivery. This is a one-year contract that has the option for two additional year renewals.Gerhard said the county consumption at the four buildings is approximately 5,560 gallons. With the new contract, the county will save $695.08.With regards to the dog shelter, Gerhard reported that the shelter is now doing monthly clothing drives. The drives started two months ago and have generated a total of $1,273.80. Anyone can drop off clothing at the shelter, located next to the county prison on the Broad Mountain in Nesquehoning. The money is used to offset operation costs at the shelter.