SCRANTON — Officials will close 18 miles of the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s northeast extension in both directions over the weekend to replace a 90-foot-long bridge, the turnpike announced Wednesday.
The stretch between the Lehigh Valley (Exit 56) and Mahoning Valley (Exit 74) interchanges will close from 9 p.m. Friday until 4 a.m. Monday as part of the turnpike’s accelerated bridge construction program.
A contractor began building the new bridge last year next to the existing one, which opened April 1, 1957, the turnpike said. About 30,000 vehicles a day travel north and south along the 18 miles. The bridge, at milepost 58.88, carries traffic Route 309 in South Whitehall Twp., Lehigh County.
Signs will lead drivers along a detour to bypass the construction zone.
— BORYS KRAWCZENIUK