Plans for a 250-foot pedestrian bridge over the Lehigh River in Jim Thorpe is moving closer to reality this year.

The bridge will help the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor work toward finishing the 165-mile trail that traverses through Pennsylvania.The estimated $3.1 million bridge will be put out to bid in March, with work expected to begin in the fall.The bridge will be an ADA compatible bridge and will be located between the south end of the Carbon County parking lot and just north of the Jim Thorpe Water Treatment Plant.Funding for the project will come through a $1.1 million Pennsylvania Department of Transportation grant and a $2 million Transportation Alternatives Program grant.When completed, the bridge will connect 40 miles of trail to the north and 90 miles of trail to the south.The heritage corridor hopes to complete all 165 miles of the trail by 2020.