A gas main replacement project that frustrated local business owners with road closures and delays is resuming, according to Newtown Borough officials.
The utility project, which spans both Newtown Borough and Newtown Township, was originally to be completed by the end of 2025. However, the timeline stalled after permitting for a SEPTA railroad crossing on South State Street, south of Chancellor Street, was not approved in time to maintain the schedule.
With the permit secured in recent weeks, crews are prepared to install the final 1,100 feet of new main and replace the remaining eight services on South State Street, the borough posted on its website.
The gas project reached milestones last year, and according to data from Newtown Borough, 82% of the gas main installation and 86% of service replacements were finished in 2025.
The newly approved permit allows for an “open cut” across the railroad tracks, which are no longer used by SEPTA trains.
Officials said the open cut is an improvement over the more restrictive “jack and bore” installation, which would have required a 24-hour road closure lasting roughly two months.
Work will require weekday road closures between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to accommodate main installation in the center of the roadway.
Existing detours will be used, and some portions of the work will be managed under flagging operations to allow traffic to pass, officials said.
The remaining construction is expected to take approximately six weeks, with a target completion date in mid-June.
Once the infrastructure work is finalized, a restoration phase for the entire project area will begin over two to three weeks.
