JERMYN - Gary Kopa, 58, has lived on Maple Street his entire life.
His father lives across the street.
Their street has been a little busier for the past eight months, after part of nearby Bridge Street caved in, causing traffic to be detoured onto Maple.
So Mr. Kopa was pleased when borough council approved a $100,000, five-year loan at a meeting Thursday to pay for repairs on Bridge Street.
"Even though the council did drag their feet a little too long, it's good to see a project that will be completed," he said, noting other areas in the borough that could use repair.
In the meantime, he was satisfied that Bridge Street would be addressed and the traffic patterns could return to normal before any accidents happen.
Maple Street curves downhill to meet Bridge and Delaware streets, which council President Katie Hosie believes is partially why some residents have complained.
"It's slippery coming down Maple Street when it's icy," she said.
There is only one residence on Bridge Street, a two-family home that is still accessible despite the road closure. The closure has partially blocked the St. James-St. George Episcopal Church, at Bridge Street and Washington Avenue.
The closure to through traffic has been more of a bother to drivers traveling from Washington Avenue to Delaware Street.
Mrs. Hosie hopes the inconvenience will be dealt with quickly, explaining the sunken portion was caused by aging infrastructure.
"When they put that road in, 100 years ago or whenever it was, they used railroad rails," she said. "Over the years they rotted."
Borough Manager Deborah Morcom said that even with council approval, the loan will need approval through the state before the project can get under way. She said it would be at least a month before the paperwork was completed.
"Once the state approves it, we can go," she said.
Contact the writer: rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT on Twitter