Explosion causes power outrage

A manhole cover flew off the sidewalk in front of The Gap at 3421 Walnut Street at 4:20 p.m. Tuesday, causing several traffic lights in the area to lose power. No one was hurt in the incident, according to University Police Sergeant Tim Trucksess. The cause has not been determined as of yet. But Walnut Street was blocked from 33rd to 36th streets, and the traffic lights did not go back on until 8:20 p.m., Trucksess added. He said several blocks of Walnut Street were blocked off because the lights were out, causing a possible threat to pedestrian safety -- especially in light of accidents last year at 33rd and Walnut streets. University Police had officers stationed at several intersections for about four hours. The Philadelphia Fire Department and the Philadelphia Electric Company responded to the explosion. PECO spokesperson Michael Wood said that the company has not yet determined the cause of the explosion. "There's a buildup of pressure and that's what happens when a manhole blows," he added. Wood speculated that the advanced age of the system might have been the contributing factor to its demise. It is not uncommon for such an occurrence to happen, he added. "Typically it's because of age in the city," Wood said. "The underground facilities are older and you see these occurrence primarily because they fail after a long life. There's no forewarning on this." Restoring the power was particularly difficult because more manpower and time is needed to repair underground facilities, Wood said. University Transportation Director Ron Ward said that the explosion caused some tie-ups in the area. "It didn't shut us down, it delayed things a little bit," Ward said. University Scholars Coordinator Susan Duggan, who was headed to her car at about 5 p.m., said when she saw the clogged intersection she opted to wait until the traffic cleared before heading home. "I walked out to my car across 33rd Street and found the biggest traffic mess I've seen in quite a while," she said.

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