One more piece of the Delaware and Lehigh Trail may soon become a reality.

During the Carbon County commissioners' meeting on Thursday, the board voted to advertise for proposals for the pedestrian bridge design and inspection services.The bridge would be located off Route 209 across from Turkey Hill in Jim Thorpe and cross the Lehigh River. This bridge would connect the trail, which right now ends at the end of the county parking lot, and picks up again on the other side of the Lehigh River.Only two pieces of the D&L Trail remain unfinished in Carbon this section in Jim Thorpe and a section in Bowmanstown. The trail runs from Easton up to Wilkes-Barre.Commissioner William O'Gurek, who abstained from the vote because of a conflict in interest due to other employment but is in favor of the project, said the county is going to be the pass-through agency during the project.He noted that he does have a few concerns because state funding allocated was based on 2010 estimates of $350,000 for design work and $1.7 million for construction costs. The project is being funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's Transportation Enhancement Act and a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recreational grant."I'm all in favor of the county being the pass-through agency," O'Gurek said, "but I hope that there will be no cost incurred by the county for this project because when it is finished, the county will take ownership of the bridge and will have to insure and maintain it. In my opinion, that is enough commitment for Carbon County to continue the trail."All of us want to see these recreational facilities in place and the trail connected," he continued, noting that he also has some questions regarding the winter maintenance of the bridge.Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard agreed with O'Gurek.He said these are questions the county will need to get answered.He added that the bridge originally was not supposed to be constructed at the same time as the Route 903 bridge, but unfortunately, it appears that will be what is happening.Commissioner Wayne Nothstein, chairman, said that the county will be meeting with representatives for the project to get a number of questions answered, including the timeline.He added that he is a little concerned, like his colleagues are, of the expenses that the county will incur after the bridge is completed.Nothstein said that he feels the expenses should be paid using parking fee funds collected from visitors to Jim Thorpe.In other matters, the board awarded Maillie LLP of Oaks, for auditing services. The costs will be $38,000 for a 2013 single audit; $39,000 for a 2014 single audit; and $5,500 for a 911 triennial audit.The board also approved a grant agreement with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security fiscal year 2011 Citizen Corps program funding for $5,200 for the performance period of Oct. 1, 2013 through June 30.