The Pennsylvania State Transportation Commission has approved the release of $5 million for Phase II of a rail project involving the construction of a bridge over the Lehigh River at Nesquehoning Junction.

The rail project will provide about 1,200 feet of new track related to the construction of the new bridge and will improve the infrastructure for the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad.Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) said basically the new track will enable the railroad to transport freight from Carbon County quicker.Jon Hopcraft, a spokesman for Sen. David Argall (R-Schuylkill/Berks), said the transportation will be quicker, because trains traveling between Taylor and Reading will not have to take time to back up and switch tracks. The new track will provide easy access to the line heading to Reading."Strong infrastructure is critical to improving economic growth and promoting job creation" Heffley said. "The funds for this project were specifically set aside for rail projects and I'm glad to see this money coming to Carbon County."The project has been in the works for a couple of years, and Phase II was originally slated to begin in 2015.Heffley said delays in the state budget have held up the release of grant money that was already secured."I'm hopeful with this release that more money will be released," he said.The STC voted this week to approve $36 million for 15 projects through the Rail Transportation Assistance Program and 16 projects through the Rail Freight Assistance Program. RTAP is a capital budget grant program funded with bonds, and RFAP is underwritten through the new Multimodal Fund, created by Act 89.An estimated 9,200 jobs will be created and more than 39,000 will be retained over the next five years due to 31 rail projects made possible by the RTAP and RFAP PennDOT programs."State support of our rail system is vital to public safety and economic development in Carbon County," said Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne/Carbon)."Coupled with the continued private investment of the Reading Blue Mountain Railroad Co., this significant state grant will upgrade our rail freight infrastructure and create jobs throughout northeastern Pennsylvania."The Phase II rail bridge is expected to create 140 direct jobs, Hopcraft said. The span will be 500 feet long and will be 40 feet above the Lehigh River."This investment will improve our local rail infrastructure and create more local jobs," said Argall."The railroad's continued positive economic impact to the region will lead to future job growth and opportunities for local residents."