Resident says UGI work on West Ross blocked streets, council says utilities have permit and 30-day restoration window

Jamie Smith of Wilkes-Barre described utility work on West Ross in which the street was blocked at 7 a.m., construction vehicles were left overnight, and several trees were removed or left as stumps. Smith said an onsite subcontractor initially told residents permits were not required but later a supervisor told her permits were indeed needed.

Smith asked whether there is a notification requirement when utilities perform work that affects residents and whether the city holds the utility accountable for repaving. She said she was told by a UGI representative that repaving would typically occur within a week but that in this case it might take a month or two, and that crews never returned as initially expected.

City staff said permits are required for such work and that utilities typically notify affected neighbors for major main-line projects; the staff representative noted a common engineering practice of allowing soil and infill to settle for about 30 days before final paving. Staff said they would follow up with the utility about the disruption and schedule for restoration.

Why it matters: Residents said the work disrupted parking during a busy week (graduation), left vehicles in driveways, and removed trees along the street. Council pledged to follow up with utilities on notifications and restoration.

What’s next: Administration said it would contact the utility and the project supervisor to seek clarity on notification practices and a timeline for restoration.