A nearly $2 billion project to replace a century-old rail bridge in New Jersey has received a boost from the federal government.

The Federal Transit Administration on Friday approved the Portal North Bridge project to advance to the engineering phase, during which it can receive about $800 million it needs to start construction.

The bridge has been a source of transit delays over many years because if often gets stuck open due to its age.

Gov. Phil Murphy thanked President Donald Trump on Twitter for allowing the project to move forward.

“Honored to have made the case directly to [President Trump] last weekend and proud to usher in a new era of safe, modern, reliable infrastructure for New Jersey and the region,” Murphy wrote.

The project, part of the larger Gateway project that includes a new tunnel under the Hudson River into New York, has been awaiting approval for several years while New York and New Jersey officials have squabbled with the federal government over dividing up the cost.