The closure planned for this weekend on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension has been postponed because of problems with the platform for the replacement bridge.

The highway will remain open in both directions as the related bridge replacement is to be rescheduled.PA Turnpike Chief Engineer Brad Heigel explained that a routine analysis conducted over the weekend revealed an issue with the slide mechanism, the steel platform upon which the new bridges were built that enables crews to slide the superstructures into place.“During a test run, we detected a slight shift had occurred on one side of the slide mechanism, so the Turnpike Commission — together with the engineering-design consultant and the construction contractor — agreed it would not be sensible to move ahead this weekend,” Heigel explained. “The shift would make it extremely difficult for crews to properly slide the new bridge segments into their correct position within the allotted 55-hour detour.”The delayed bridge replacement is slated to be rescheduled mid-to-late October.The work was planned over a period of 55 hours, from 9 p.m. Friday night through 4 a.m. Monday, shutting down the road between the Mahoning Valley entrance to the Lehigh Valley entrance.The plan was to replace two bridge spans over Crackersport Road in South Whitehall Township. The new bridges were pre-constructed alongside of the turnpike as well as the structures. The plan was to slide them in place.Traffic Incident Management Coordinator Todd Leiss said the cancellation is due to “unforseen alignment issues with the new superstructure and temporary support/sliding structure.”According to Carl Defabo, turnpike communications director, this type of project would normally take up to two years to complete. The technique that is being postponed shortens that time considerably and eliminates the need for multiple road and lane closures.A new date for the closure has not be announced yet.An 18-mile closure was planned.