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Allendale Faces Day Two Of Gridlock As Gas Main Work Continues

ALLENDALE, N.J. — Streets in Allendale on the west side of town are gridlocked Friday for the second day in a row as PSE&G continues repairing a gas main break on West Crescent Avenue.

Vehicles backed up on Brookside Avenue as they approach the West Crescent Avenue intersection at 4:20 p.m Friday.

Vehicles backed up on Brookside Avenue as they approach the West Crescent Avenue intersection at 4:20 p.m Friday.

Photo Credit: Lorraine Ash
West Crescent Avenue in Allendale remains closed as PSE&G continues to repair a gas main break.

West Crescent Avenue in Allendale remains closed as PSE&G continues to repair a gas main break.

Photo Credit: Lorraine Ash

The road is still closed between Hillside Avenue and West Allendale Avenue.

According to borough police, it’s looking like West Crescent won’t reopen until Saturday.

In a SwiftReach message Thursday night, the borough suggested that motorists find alternate routes for Friday.

A 16-inch gas main at West Crescent and West Maple avenues broke Thursday afternoon, evacuating Brookside School and some homes.

Police Chief George Scherb said no injuries were reported.

But traffic around the scene has been rerouted ever since.

Firetrucks from Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus and Wyckoff responded.

“There’s a lot of equipment out there,” said Allendale Firefighter Rick Cauwenberghs.

He saw gas fumes “forcefully” coming out of the ground and shooting up some 15 feet in the air when he drove by around 3 p.m. Thursday.

According to Cauwenberghs, the leak has to be shut down slowly because of the size of the main.

“They’ve got to gradually shut it down so no back pressure builds up and explodes somewhere else,” he said.

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