Downed Wires Force Closure of Long Island Expressway, Cause Power Outage in Plainview
PLAINVIEW, N.Y. — A powerful thunderstorm that swept across Long Island Friday evening brought down utility wires over the Long Island Expressway, temporarily shutting down westbound traffic, knocking out power to nearby businesses and residences, and causing widespread traffic delays.
The incident unfolded at approximately 7:20 p.m. as the storm moved through the area with heavy rain, frequent lightning, and strong wind gusts.
Utility wires spanning the Sunnyside Boulevard overpass over the Long Island Expressway were brought down during the storm. The wires fell across the overpass and hung over the westbound lanes of the expressway below, creating a hazardous situation that prompted an immediate response from emergency crews.
The storm also caused power outages throughout the surrounding area. Traffic signals went dark, requiring Nassau County Police officers to manually direct traffic at nearby intersections. A nearby 7-Eleven temporarily closed after losing power, with an employee continuing to work inside the darkened store using a flashlight.
The outage also affected Chelsea Senior Living, where firefighters responded after the facility lost power and an alarm was activated.
As PSEG Long Island crews worked to remove the downed wires and restore electrical service, all westbound traffic on the Long Island Expressway was diverted at Exit 46 onto the service road. Nassau County Police officers managed the heavy flow of vehicles through the intersection while traffic lights remained out.
The closure resulted in significant backups along the Long Island Expressway and nearby roadways during the height of the evening commute.
After utility crews safely removed the wires from above the highway, westbound lanes of the Long Island Expressway were reopened to traffic.
Friday evening's line of severe thunderstorms brought torrential rain, frequent lightning, and strong wind gusts across New York City and Long Island, resulting in scattered power outages, downed trees, and hazardous travel conditions in several communities.
