Folks in Irwin are responding with a mix of relief and cautious optimism now that Main Street has been reopened to traffic.

Phase Three of an $8 million federal- and state-mandated separation of combined sewer and storm water lines had choked off the downtown business district since December. Traffic was detoured along Oak Street outside the main commercial area.

The project missed a projected June-July completion date, and it is still not complete, as crews are working on side streets and alleys. The paving of Main Street and construction of new sidewalks were put off until next summer.

Merchants were hit hard.

Bill Waldsmith, owner of Pamela's Card & Gifts, was forced to drive a school bus to supplement a meager income from his shop.

"It's great Main Street is open again," he said. "With the Christmas season coming up, the timing couldn't be better."

Mr. Waldsmith intends to continue driving a bus. "It's the only steady income I can count on."

Mayor Dan Rose described the Main Street reopening as "a breath of fresh air."

"I'm happy for the merchants. It was a tough 10 months for everybody. Fortunately they all hung on. None were lost. I hope the holiday shopping season will help make up at least some of the lost money."

Tom Witman, who owns Tee Square, said the reopening of Main Street is "essential to the overall welfare of Irwin merchants."

"I'm [eager] to see what positive measures borough council takes to promote Irwin so we can get our customers back. We need their help to survive."

Borough Manager Mary S. Benko said: "People didn't like parking outside the business district, then walking through dirt and dust and dodging earth movers, rocks and holes. They went elsewhere to shop.

"If [customers] come back, [the merchants] should do fine. Convincing people to shop in Irwin again will not be easy, though. It's going to take some work."

"I'm just thrilled to pieces," said Lois Woleslagle, president of the Irwin Business and Professional Association. "Our little town is open again. We can play music for shoppers again.

"Word hasn't really spread yet that Main Street is open. When it does, I'm sure our regular customers will be back. They've always been loyal."

The Irwin Business and Professional Association funded the installation of several loudspeakers mounted on store fronts along Main Street, between Third and Fifth streets in the heart of the commercial area.

"We were not allowed to play music for several months because the construction crews were digging very deep. The workers needed absolute quiet down there," said Mrs. Woleslagle, whose home interiors shop is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in town.

"In a small town like ours, playing music puts people in the mood to shop," she said, laughing. "It works. Music is our Pied Piper."

Mike Pochan, acting chairman of Irwin's long-term economic revitalization project and IBPA secretary, considers the reopening of Main Street "a crucial boost for the economic revitalization of Irwin."

"Now we can go ahead with the Streetscape and Hometown Streets project," he continued.

More than three years ago, Irwin was awarded a $1.9 million state economic and community development grant. Its use was delayed by the sewer separation project.

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