Carbon County officials are moving forward to repair the Hometown High Bridge in Schuylkill County.

During the monthly meeting of the county railroad commission on Tuesday, the board discussed the 2010 Rail Freight Assistance Program grant the county was awarded from the state in December 2009. The amount of the grant is $435,456; over $500,000 lower than initially requested.Commissioner William O'Gurek, who also chairs the railroad commission, said he spoke with Reading and Northern Railroad officials, the rail company the county authorized to handle the grant and repairs, about the status of the project.He said the railroad is currently assessing the labor and materials cost to see what work can be completed within the grant amount, as well as a $150,000 share from the county and railroad. The project calls for major repairs along the 185-foot high bridge, which is owned by Carbon County and utilized by Reading and Northern.The commission then voted to give Reading and Northern permission to notify the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation that the county will be accepting the grant.