PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Icy conditions caused by water leaks and main breaks forced the closure of several SEPTA station entrances this week, though SEPTA officials said train service has not been impacted.
SEPTA said some stations are dealing primarily with entrances being closed because of ice, but travel across the system continues as normal.
Around 5 p.m. Tuesday, water poured down from above the Market-Frankford Line at Kensington and Allegheny, raining onto loaves of bread scattered on the sidewalk below.
Police taped off the area as water continued shooting from a pipe overhead.
SEPTA said the east end of the EL is where crews experience the most trouble because of the structure’s age and because pipes are located on the outside.
Officials said they plan on installing heating strips this summer in an effort to prevent similar issues.
On Monday night, water flooded into Jefferson Station in Center City after a water main break forced Section A to close.
Riders were rerouted to different entrances and exits while crews worked to clean up.
That same night, a water main break at the Tasker and Morris SEPTA station sent water cascading into the station, where it quickly froze.
A day later, thick ice continued to block riders from using that entrance.
“All sorts of ice, the stairwell is totally inaccessible,” described SEPTA rider Alex Zipf of Callowhill.
“I seen the thing and I was like, ‘Oh no, I’m not walking down this.’ I had to go across the street,” said Jamir Randolph of South Philadelphia.
Layers of ice coated subway walls and steps and spilled onto the floor.
Officials closed the affected entrance and spread salt to help the ice melt.
Riders stopped to take photos and said they had seen similar conditions at other stations.
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