By Kim Anderson
Haverstraw, NY — A stretch of Route 9W in Haverstraw has been shut down after a utility pole was knocked down, sparking a brush fire and necessitating emergency repairs late Friday afternoon. Authorities say the northbound lanes of Route 9W were closed at Route 304 around 3 p.m., with traffic blocked through to Short Clove Road.
According to Clarkstown Police, the incident has prompted a significant response from emergency crews, including teams from Orange & Rockland Utilities who are on-site to repair the damage. Meanwhile, reports from 511NY confirmed that a brush fire broke out at the location of the fallen pole, complicating efforts to reopen the highway.
Although early assessments indicated the road closure might last only an hour, police later issued a statement cautioning that Route 9W would likely remain closed through the overnight hours. “We urge motorists to avoid the area and seek alternate routes,” the police said in a public advisory.
No injuries have been reported as of this writing, and the cause of the utility pole’s collapse has not been disclosed. Officials said further updates will be provided once the road is cleared and declared safe for travel.
Commuters and residents are advised to monitor local traffic alerts and police bulletins for real-time updates.