Torn-up Sidewalks to be Fixed for Santa - And Shoppers

PECO's recent work in downtown Doylestown has left sidewalks torn up, making the downtown business district difficult to navigate.

That work will come to an end Tuesday, and the sidewalks will be restored and all equipment removed on Wednesday, just in time for the arrival of Santa on Friday night - and the holiday shopping season.

"We did not want to do anything between the arrival of Santa and the beginning of the year," borough manager John Davis said during Tuesday night's council meeting. PECO "did agree to put their efforts on hold, and everything will be buttoned up by this Wednesday."

PECO has been thoroughly inspecting its electrical equipment in downtown Doylestown, after a series of power outages throughout the year cut critical electric service to borough businesses and residents.

The work has been going on for weeks, as the company systematically works its way through the area, Davis said.

The company's workers have repaired or replaced faulty equipment as they go, but more work will be needed. In fact, the most critical work won't begin until after Christmas.

"The work starting in January will be major," council member David Laustsen said. "They discovered all this stuff gone haywire that’s up there, and they’re going to replace it all, and it’s going to be a much, much better, longer-lasting solution than we would have had otherwise."

Davis said a PECO representative will be at the December public works committee meeting to update borough leaders on what the company's investigation has turned up, what repairs have been made, and what work is planned for January and beyond.

Council members and staff said they had confidence in PECO's approach to solving the problems.

"What we didn’t want was a vague promise," Davis said. "We have gotten a precise and determinate outcome; they know what the problem is and they know how to fix it."

As for the work this week, Davis said all the sidewalks will be restored and all of PECO's equipment will be removed by Wednesday night.

"Nothing will be left in a temporary condition," he said. "It will be as if they were never here."

Other council members said they were pleased about that, given how critical the holiday shopping period will be to Doylestown's business community.

"This is prime time shopping for these retailers," said Joan Doyle.

And Mayor Libby White used the discussion to remind people to shop at borough businesses and eat at borough restaurants whenever they can - not just on Small Business Saturday, on Nov. 26.

"Any chance you get, please shop local," White said. "It’s really going to help our community."