Philadelphia Water Department spokesman John DiGiulio last week told residents that some water mains will soon be replaced in Northwood and Frankford.
Some people had come to the Feb. 17 Northwood Civic Association meeting expecting to hear about a PWD capital project for Adams Avenue, but DiGiulio said he had no knowledge of such a project.
Instead, he told them that mains would be replaced on Arrott Street from Oakland to Leiper Street in Northwood, and on Foulkrod Street from Duffield to Tackawanna Street and on Ruan Street from Tackawanna Street to Torresdale Avenue.
Water mains in the area originally were installed in 1897, according to the PWD.
The work could begin in six to eight weeks, DiGiulio said, and could take from four to six months to complete. He said the department will “robocall” residents to alert them when construction will begin.
Workers will dig small trenches to get to the mains, he said, and will cover the trenches with plates overnight. Parking will be restricted during work days, but will be allowed nights and weekends, he said. Detour signs will be put up if it becomes necessary to close streets.
Cars will have to be moved during the hours of construction: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
According to information DiGiulio provided last week, there will be some minor water service disruptions while new connections are made. Loss of service will be for one to two hours while house connections are made and for four to eight hours while main connections are completed.
Trash collections should not be affected. SEPTA service for the Route 75 along Arrott Street and Route 56 on Torresdale Avenue is not expected to be disrupted. A PWD inspector will be on site.
For more information, visit www.phila.gov/water/notifications
OTHER BUSINESS
Jim Kennedy, an aide to U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, told members that the freshman congressman currently is setting up his district offices. Boyle has an office at 2375 Woodward. The number is 215–335–3355.
Joe Krause, the civic association’s president, said a man who is running a used-car business is storing his vehicles all over Northwood’s streets.
“One guy has cars all over the neighborhood,” he said.
The cars don’t have license plates, he said, and he is urging residents to report them to police.
Krause said an illegal daycare center on the 5000 block of Oxford Avenue has been cited.
Tom McAvoy, vice president, said he’s hoping to get “no truck parking” signs in the neighborhood. Truck parking has been a persistent problem in Northwood. McAvoy said there are two trucks that have been parking on local streets.
Councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez will be the guest speaker at Northwood Civic Association’s next monthly session, 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, at St. James Church, Castor Avenue and Pratt Street. ••
