A $125,000 state grant has eased the cost of repairing a storm water pipe that runs along and under Kittanning Pike in O'Hara. Now, it's up to the weather to speed the labor.

The grant is especially welcome because the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has agreed to fix only the portion of the pipe that is directly under the state road. The bulk of the repairs, which will fall on O'Hara, are estimated at $420,000.

"The storm water line that runs along and under Kittanning Pike failed during heavy flooding last August and caused a large amount of water to run down the road," said township Manager Julie Jakubec. That damaged the area surrounding the road.

State Pipe, of Cranberry, has started cleaning out the line, said O'Hara engineer Chuck Steinert Jr. After that is completed, workers will install a flexible liner to cover holes and cracks in the pipes. The job is expected to be completed by the end of June.

In addition to the area around Kittanning Pike, other areas were damaged by the Aug. 9 storms and flooding. Repairs throughout O'Hara will exceed $1 million, and council has amended the 2007 township budget to reflect the unanticipated expenditures. The township was able to absorb the costs without a tax increase because sufficient reserve was built into the budget.

The safe water grant, part of an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, was obtained with the help of state Rep. Randy Vulakovich, R-Shaler. "He helped identify which grant we needed and then shepherded the paperwork through the review process," Ms. Jakubec said.

"This is some good news," council President Robert John Smith said at council's March 11 meeting.

Councilwoman Ilene L.S. Kurfeerst agreed: "This grant takes the burden off the township."