Rolling road closures are reshaping how drivers move through downtown Doylestown as PECO installs a new gas main along State and Main streets.
The utility began work Aug. 4 and will close sections of both streets one at a time through Friday, Dec. 4, according to Patch. Crews work two shifts: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Local access is maintained at all times, and the schedule is weather-dependent.
PECO is performing the project under a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) highway occupancy permit, Central Bucks Now reported.
Where the closures hit
Four segments will close in sequence, each with its own detour, according to TAPinto Doylestown:
- State Street between Clinton and Hamilton streets — detour via Court and Hamilton streets.
- State Street between Hamilton and Main streets — detour via Clinton, Ashland and Main streets.
- State Street between Main and Donaldson streets — detour via Court and Pine streets.
- Main Street between State and Court streets — southbound traffic uses Court Street, Clinton Street and Oakland Avenue; northbound uses Ashland Street, Clinton Street and Court Street.
PennDOT advised motorists to allow extra travel time, noting backups may develop around work zones and detour routes.
Repaving to follow
The gas main work is the first step in a broader upgrade. Once PECO finishes, PennDOT plans to resurface State Street between Ashland Street and Court Street. It would be the first time State Street has been resurfaced since the 1990s, according to a Doylestown Borough announcement.
That repaving is 100% state-funded, part of a PennDOT initiative to resurface 16 miles of state highways across Bucks County at a total cost of $8,339,767.
State Rep. Tim Brennan called the road a longstanding concern he has raised repeatedly with PennDOT leadership, including during regular meetings and ride-alongs, Patch reported July 28. At the same announcement, Brennan predicted the payoff for residents once both the PECO work and repaving wrap up.
"… It will be smooth driving through the heart of Doylestown," Brennan said.
New Galena Road closed through Sept. 25
Separately, New Galena Road in New Britain Township closed Monday, Sept. 7, for base repair work and will remain closed weekdays through Sept. 25. The closure affects the stretch between Route 152 (Limekiln Pike) and Callowhill Road, with work running 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting.
Drivers are detoured via Route 152, Hilltown Pike and Callowhill Road. PennDOT specifically directed trucks to follow the posted detour rather than using Creek Road, which is truck-restricted.
Motorists can check real-time traffic conditions through 511PA, the 511PA mobile app, or by calling 511.
