Nesquehoning is moving forward with trying to secure funding for a complete repaving of Industrial Road in the borough.

On Wednesday, the borough council approved a motion to allow Arro Engineering to proceed with preparing an Application Regional Commission grant application for the project. The cost for the prepare work is between $5,000 and $8,000.

Last month, Councilman Bruce Nalesnik said that Arro estimates it will cost $1.2 million to repave Industrial Road in its entirety.

Nalesnik said Wednesday that now is the time to try because some grants are available for projects like this. Nesquehoning couldn’t afford the project without the help of a grant.

He added that Arro has been successful with other municipalities getting millions to complete large projects like this.

Council President David Hawk said that it would make sense considering Reading and Northern completed the railroad’s east crossing on Industrial Road last year and they are in the process of working on the west crossing of that road.

Nalesnik said that if the borough could secure a grant and improve that road, it would also be more attractive to industries since that road houses several businesses already.

In other street matters, Nalesnik said that borough crews have been busy trying to open clogged drains as a result of strong thunderstorms that have been rolling through the area.

In addition, borough crews have been doing street painting and council hopes to reach out to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to see if pedestrian crosswalk signs are available to receive through the state for free. The signs would be placed on the state highway through the town, as well as near Panther Valley Elementary School.

If the signs aren’t available, council approved purchasing seven signs to replace the ones that have been up since approximately 2010.