Plans to finish a 105-mile trail that weaves through Northampton, Lehigh, Carbon, Luzerne and Bucks counties, are coming together.

At the Carbon County Commissioners' meeting on Thursday, H. Scott Everett, Delaware and Lehigh Trail manager, presented an update of the pedestrian bridge project in Jim Thorpe, as well as the D&L Trail connectivity project in various locations in Carbon County.He said that now that the county has secured the $2 million PennDOT Transportation Alternative Program grant, the construction of the pedestrian bridge, which is expected to cost $3.1 million, is now fully funded. In addition to the $2 million, $1.1 million has been awarded to the D&L National Heritage Corridor for the project through PennDOT; and an additional $350,000 was secured through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for the design portion of the project, as well as a portion of the Jim Thorpe Connectivity Project.Everett said that the group will now begin working to secure rights of way and speak with engineers to determine a timeline for the construction.The grant comes with a two-year funding cycle, meaning that the project needs to take place within that two-year window.The bridge project is also partnering with the Jim Thorpe connectivity project, which would be from the proposed pedestrian bridge to the existing trail and includes building a retaining wall and making trail improvements. The cost of the project is $699,028; with $500,000 in grants secured.Everett said that this project is trying to be timed with the pedestrian bridge to help reduce costs.In addition, Everett spoke about the connectivity project that is taking place to fully connect the trail through Carbon County.The total cost of the project is $208,000, which was awarded to Carbon County by DCNR.The projects that remain for the connectivity portion include:• Completing portions of the trail from Weissport to Bridge Street in Lehighton, which would be a share of the road trail.• Create a trail entrance at the already completed portion at Bridge Street in Lehighton, heading to Lehigh Drive toward Jim Thorpe.• Make an ADA compatible pedestrian connection at the trail entrance at Marvin Gardens/Route 895 in East Penn Township.• Complete the train from Route 895 to the East Penn Boat Launch.