Town of Franklinton officials are hopeful that a a lengthy downtown detour will soon be history.
Hancock Street is closed off just south of Washington Street. A leaking gas pipe was dug up and then Franklinton town workers discovered that the 1950-era pipe cannot be replaced with a comparable product. But town officials are hopeful that a replacement pipe will soon be in place and the street will be re-opened.
The closure hasn't just been inconvenient to motorists. It has also affected nearby businesses, including Resource Bank.
This is similar to what happened earlier this year when Carter Street was closed off for months at its intersection with Main Street. Then, the problem was a very old water pipe that could not be easily replaced. Eventually a suitable pipe product was found and Carter Street was re-opened, to the relief of nearby residents who had been detouring for months.
Franklinton Public Works Director Reginald McMasters expressed his frustration with Franklinton’s aging pipes at the December City Council meeting. He said the leaking pipe that is causing the Hancock Street closure is an Army surplus pipe from way back in the 1950’s. Once a workable solution is found, the pipeline will be repaired and the street will be re-opened.
No one seems to be blaming the Town of Franklinton for the road closure --- people understand the issue with aging pipes. However, they want the detour to be ended as soon as possible.
