A new medical center in Lehighton could open its doors in the spring.

The St. Luke's Medical Center - Lehighton will be located on Ninth Street just off Route 443.Joe Bennett, partner/developer with Lehighton Development LLC, said the 21,500-square-foot facility will offer an urgent care, X-ray, lab services, physical therapy, and several specialty physicians.Bennett said the facility will employ more than 30 employees, and added it could be open within the next six months, weather pending."This was in the works for three years," Bennett said. "This has been a project that has taken a lot of planning, lots of engineering."He added, "We've had the tremendous cooperation of Lehighton Borough, which is a very pro-business community."Bennett also said the project has received "outstanding support from local business owners," and thanked state Rep. Doyle Heffley, who assisted in working with UGI to bring gas service to the building."The borough has been extremely welcoming from the electric company down to the sewer, water," Bennett said. "(Borough Manager) Nicole Beckett, borough management, have been very helpful in putting the pieces to the puzzle together."Bennett said the project has employed several local contractors."It will be just a beautiful building which will fit in nicely with the area," he said. "It will be a well-lit facility with all the latest in LED lighting throughout the building, as well as the exterior."The project took longer than anticipated, Bennett said, due to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation building a new bridge in the vicinity of the facility, which led to having to move the site further away from 443 to accommodate the bridge.Bennett said residents who visit the facility can expect to receive excellent care."There really is an outstanding need," he said. "Blue Mountain Health System is extremely successful and professional, and this is merely where St. Luke's, which has a prominent position in our community with the Miners Campus, is extending their outreach to serve the needs of the area's residents."Bennett said once completed, the Lehighton facility will mark the final of four projects, with the others located in West Penn Township, Nesquehoning and Albrightsville.Last month, the St. Luke's Care Now - West Penn, opened at 2092 West Penn Pike, New Ringgold, along routes 309 and 895.That facility has laboratory services for blood tests, an X-ray facility and a large physical therapy and wellness program.