PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — SEPTA has completed repairs to the trolley tunnel. But that doesn't mean it's about to reopen.
SEPTA's trolley tunnel between 40th and 13th streets has been closed since Nov. 13, after a replacement part damaged the overhead wires that supply power to the trolleys. Crews have worked around the clock to smooth out and, in some cases, replace sections of wire. As of Friday, SEPTA said that work is complete.
SEPTA will run test trolleys through the tunnel beginning Saturday, said Lex Powers, the transit agency's chief of customer experience.
"We expect to test throughout next week. And dependent on that, we will set a concrete date for opening,” Powers said.
SEPTA is targeting mid-January to reopen the tunnel, depending on how testing goes. That means 60,000 daily riders will continue to be detoured to the L or a shuttle.
"The T shuttle bus, now, that we have, which kind of takes the pressure off of the L a little bit."
SEPTA said extended testing is necessary to ensure that when the tunnel reopens, it will not have to close again.