A loan of $800,000 will be taken out to help pay for replacement of several collapsed or deteriorating pipes which have been carrying water underneath five roads in Union Township. Permits have been obtained from the Army Corps of Engineers, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and the Berks County Conservation District, said Union Township Engineer Tom Unger. Work will start in the spring of 2013 to replace pipes under Crusher, Centre, Halman, Sycamore and Harmonyville Roads. Centre Road has been closed for over a year. In the meantime engineering work take place, and bid packages will be sent out.

Supervisor Nelson Ott pointed out that Union Township has not been “dragging its feet” on the issue, but was set back due to a delay in obtaining the permits.

Township Manager Carol Lewis said that the DEP is two years behind in paper work for reviewing and approving permits, with over 500 applications on file.