Walnutport plans to replace a collapsing storm pipe on South Canal Street that goes under the railroad track.

Borough council on a 5-0 vote Thursday agreed to spend up to $15,000 for the replacement of the pipe.

Council then agreed on a 4-0 vote, with an abstention from Councilman David Stankovic, to spend up to $20,000 for labor and equipment for the replacement.

Borough roadmaster Michael Wentz said the 48-inch pipe is at the very end of South Canal Street.

Wentz said there’s an existing storm system that comes out from the railroad track to the canal.

He said there are two pipes: the 48-inch pipe that has been in since the mid-1970s, and one that was put in 2010.

Wentz said the whole pipe is collapsing, the pipe and sides are gone.

“It’s dangerous at this point,” Wentz said. “It needs to be replaced.”

Wentz said that if the borough would have bid it out, it would have cost about $70,000.

“Sitting here tonight, it’s dangerous,” he said. “This was not (something that was) budgeted; we didn’t have a choice.”

Wentz said the road will be closed between two to three days once the work gets underway.

Councilmen Michael Gaston and Harold Greene were absent.

Water leak

Also last week, Wentz informed council there was a water leak last month at the ABC Early Learning day care at 417 Lincoln Ave.

Wentz said the pipe broke overnight at the day care, and noted there was about 3 inches of water in the infant room, as well as tiles ripped up, and other minor damage in the bathroom.

“It will all be back to normal,” he said. “It was a ton of water.”