PITTSFIELD -- If Mother Nature cooperates in the next two days, a new Neal Bridge will be ready for traffic.

Construction of the bridge on Route 100 has taken longer than expected, but projects officials now say it is largely complete and pavement is now scheduled to go on top.

That means the road could be opened back up to motorists as soon as Saturday, according to the Maine Department of Transportation.

The reopening "is weather-dependent," said DOT spokesman Mark Latti. "If weather delays things it would still open in the immediate future."