PECO work could cause major headaches

WEST CHESTER » Borough drivers, shoppers and diners may feel the pinch, as uptown PECO gas line work will likely start in May, with motorists confronting detours for 10 weeks during weekday business hours.

Two borough residential neighborhoods will also be impacted.

Borough council voted 5-1 to allow PECO to dig up Gay Street between Matlack and High streets, and detour traffic to Chestnut Street, so the energy provider can install high-pressure gas mains to increase capacity.

Michael Galey, W3, was the lone nay voter and Denise Polk, W7, was absent, at Thursday’s voting session.

Eighteen hundred feet of Gay Street will be closed weekdays to traffic from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pedestrians will be able to navigate alongside the closed street. Sidewalks will stay open during the breadth of the project.

Two residential areas in the borough will also face the jackhammer.

Work will start on Price Street, between S. Wayne Street and Bradford Avenue, in June, with PECO workers closing the street during business hours.

Franklin Street residents, starting in April, between E. Marshall and E. Chestnut streets will face detours while new gas lines are installed. East Biddle Street, stretching from Matlack Street to the east for a couple of blocks will also see workers visiting their streets starting in April.

Work will be ongoing in both neighborhoods from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

As directed by council, Borough Manager Mike Perrone was expected to sign off on the uptown project Friday morning. Gay Street work will likely start in May.

Walnut Street, from Gay Street

to East Chestnut Street will also be closed, as well as a portion of Prescott Alley.

PECO workers will dig about 100 to 150 feet per day. A small section at the end of the trench will be covered with a plate to prevent falls.

The project will not cost residents and businesses a penny, unless they want to switch the location of their meter. Because this portion of the borough is part of the national registry of historic districts, meters will likely be placed inside homes and businesses.

Councilman Bernie Flynn, W6, asked PECO representatives whether the work would have less of an impact if performed at night.

Richard Bethke, PECO senior engineer, said the company had discussed working at night with the public utilities department and the Business Improvement District.

“You’re going to affect somebody — business owners or residents,” Flynn said. “Who will suffer the most consequences?”

“We were more than willing to work at night but we’re not as productive,” Bethke replied. “There will be a lot of jackhammering and a lot of noise.

“You would get a lot of phone calls. How do we get moved out of this area as quickly as possible?”

Council President Diane LeBold said there will not be a major impact on businesses.

“Generally, when people come to West Chester they are used to parking someplace and walking,” she said.

Scott Zukin, of Zukin Realty, asked whether signs stating that businesses were open would be displayed and whether PECO might pay the parking cost for visiting shoppers and diners.

Bethke said that the signs were “already in the works” but that he couldn’t comment on complimentary parking.

Zukin said the project might change long-term behavior.

“It might train people that it’s not so bad to park in a lot and walk,” Zukin said.