Power restored, gas repairs continue in downtown Wilkes-Barre
According to the Wilkes-Barre mayor's office, power was restored to downtown Wilkes-Barre as of 8:30 Thursday morning, but some lanes around Public Square will remain closed as UGI Utilities continues repairs.
All downtown businesses can operate and the Wilkes-Barre Farmers Market will open at 10 a.m. as scheduled, but there will not be parking available from North Main Street to Market Street, according to a release from the city.
The release also states that while the eastbound lane of West Market Street from North Franklin Street will be opened, the westbound lane will stay closed while crews work on the gas line. Large areas of Wilkes-Barre and surrounding Wilkes-Barre Township were without power Wednesday night as utility crews worked to resolve a gas leak on Public Square in the city.
City officials said the leak was in the area of Public Square and West Market Street. Crews were still on scene as of 11 p.m.
Much of downtown Wilkes-Barre was in the dark Wednesday night, with traffic signals and streetlights out of commission as PPL and UGI Utilities worked to resolve the issue, city officials said.
The initial power outage was much larger, however.
As many as 3,700 PPL Electric Utilities customers lost power around 9 p.m., causing businesses to close early, particularly in the township, police said.
Wilkes-Barre Township Police reminded the public that a non-functioning traffic signal is required by law to be treated as a stop sign.
Comments on the department's post suggested that many motorists were not heeding that guidance at the height of the power outage.
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* WVIA's Sarah Scinto contributed to this report.
