Construction work on the first phase of Carbon County’s proposed multiuse fire training facility project has begun.

This week, construction crews from Bruce George Paving and Excavating of Kunkletown, the contractor who won the bid for phase 1A, were on Emergency Lane on the Broad Mountain in Nesquehoning clearing away brush and preparing the area.

Phase 1A is the widening of Emergency Lane, which will be the entrance to the proposed training facility and new emergency management agency, from 11 feet to 22 feet to accommodate firetrucks and larger emergency vehicles that will utilize the site.

Bruce George Paving was awarded the contract in June after it submitted the low bid of $811,869.85.

Work was to begin this past summer, but rainy weather delayed the project for months.

Earlier this month, the commissioners approved a change order with the construction company to extend the phase’s completion date from Nov. 24 to May 31, 2019.

The widening of Emergency Lane is the first of three phases in the estimated $10 million project.

The facility, once completed, will provide fire departments with live fire training sites and a drill tower and other training necessities, as well as give police, county departments and EMS classroom and training options that normally are completed in other counties.

During the construction, EMA and communications center employees are utilizing a set of stairs that have been installed at the far end of the county prison parking lot up to the Emergency Management Agency.

Meetings that use the EMA have also been relocated to other sites while the project is taking place.