Tamaqua Borough hopes to work with the Reading and Northern Railroad to repair at least two railroad crossings and get permission to install water lines under another.

Resident Kathy Nunemacher approached council last week with concerns about crossings on Broad Street and Spruce Street.

“We drive around different spots where they have crossings and they are not near as bad as Tamaqua,” Nunemacher said.

Council President Brian Connely said the Broad Street crossing is scheduled for repairs.

“I’m not sure of the time schedule yet, but we’re actually replacing water lines under that area,” he said.

As for the Spruce Street crossing, Connely said, “We’ve been working with them and continue to work with them to come up with something.”

He’ll meet with a railroad official this week, he said.

“It’s a bad one,” Connely agreed of the Spruce crossing. “We are working with them to address it.”

Sidewalks and pavements near the crossings will also be part of the projects.

“We’re aware of it, we’re on it, and we’re working with them,” he said.

In a related matter, borough Solicitor Anthony Odorizzi noted that he is working on an agreement between the borough and railroad to allow the borough to place water pipes under the Greenwood Street crossing.

“We need (water lines) to get to different parts of town to create loops and water pressure and everything else. One of the struggles is how do you get piping or water lines under the railroad tracks when the railroad won’t let you dig it out or let you do certain things to get there?” Connely said.

Borough officials researched high density piping, which can be installed by boring through the ground - and causing minimal impact to the crossing.

“It’s something new. We worked with the railroad and their engineers and asked, ‘Can we do this?’” Connely said.

The borough had its engineers prepare plans, and is ready to put the project out for bid.

“The railroad is asking for an indemnification back from the borough and the water authority,” Odorizzi said. The company is asking that if something happens to the pipe - and it damages railroad property damaged - that the borough would be responsible for paying for repairs.

The piping, Connely said, is double enforced. He believes it would be the first time it will be used in the area under railroad tracks.

“It’s pretty high tech,” he said. “People throughout the country use it and the railroad has been pretty receptive.”

Council authorized Odorizzi to finalize and send the agreement to the railroad.