Coaldale Mayor Herb Whildin told borough council members that they can soon expect roadwork on Route 209 in the borough.

Whildin was alerted to the work through a letter from state Sen. David G. Argall, R-29.

“It says milling and paving will continue,” Whildin said during Tuesday’s regular monthly meeting.

Work, however, has not begun as of yet.

“If they are going to start, it will affect the fire company and police,” Whildin cautioned.

The project is part of a $5 million plan to mill and resurface Route 209 in Coaldale and Tamaqua.

Argall announced the project and others in parts of Schuylkill and Carbon counties last month.

“I regularly receive complaints from local people about the condition of our state roads - and for good reason,” Argall said in the announcement. “I’m thankful these important projects will proceed this year, but we need to do more to ensure our roads and bridges are safe for drivers.”

In keeping with road repairs, borough Councilwoman Claire Remington said that the borough has a list of tentative street repair projects for 2023.

“We have a lot of inlet work to be done,” she said.

On her suggestion, council approved opening an account with Monarch Products, York Haven, which will provide the inlets and piping.

Remington estimated that the borough will need about 489 tons of blacktop to pave the streets on the wish list.

“There’s more than we can afford this year,” she said of the possible projects. “I have to actually call to see what the price of hot patch will be this year and then we will know exactly how far we can go.”

She’s hoping the work can be complete by September. Line painting will follow, she said.