WEST NYACK – An electric transmission support line fell onto the Thruway’s northbound lanes in West Nyack, just north of the Palisades Center Mall at about 1:40 p.m. Wednesday resulting in traffic being halted in both directions.
The high-tension electric line behind the J lot in West Nyack snapped and landed on other wires. It was dangling over the Thruway causing backups and lane closures.
O&R coordinated repair operations with the Thruway and State Police last night to fix the transmission support wire that snapped loose from its moorings and draped over electric transmission lines about 100 feet over the Thruway in West Nyack Wednesday afternoon.
The wire hanging down toward both shoulders of the Thruway drew concerns from officials that it might impact traffic in the northernmost lane. The Thruway was closed until an O&R safety inspection permitted the re-opening in time for rush hour.
Then, O&R, Thruway officials and State Police began planning repairs for later in the evening when traffic was lighter. Troopers stopped Thruway traffic at about 11:30 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes.
O&R crews had made the necessary preparatory repairs to a broken crossarm on a wooden transmission pole. Those repairs permitted the crews to pull the wire off the transmission line and secure it back on the pole as soon as the traffic stopped. Traffic resumed without incident by 11:45 p.m.
