Gas Explosion Closes Thruway
Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 12:06PM This just in:
UPDATE THUWAY NOW RE-OPENED AS OF 1:50 PM
UPDATE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC I-90 - NYS THRUWAY EASTBOUND AT MILEPOST 148.2 AT EXIT 24
Closed to traffic I-90 - NYS Thruway eastbound at milepost 148.2 at exit 24, expect extremely long delays
Motorists should plan for extended delays. Motorists familiar with the area may wish to seek alternate routes to avoid delays.
Updated Wednesday 08/10 at 12:12 PM
We getting reports via Twiiter that a massive gas explosion has closed the Thruway northbound at milepost 141.9 at exit 23.
The southbound lanes and traffic in both directions were being rerouted following an 11 a.m. explosion possibly involving a ruptured gas line.The Times Union has an eyewitness report on the chaos.
"There was an enormous hissing sound, it looked like a small tornado of dust and a lot of construction workers were running around frantically. I got a strong whiff of gas," said motorist John Williams, who was driving north on the Thruway in his Saab with the windows rolled down.
"There was a lot of debris and dust spewing out and it looked pretty chaotic," said Williams, of Plymouth, Mass., a retired UPI reporter who worked in New York City.