South Maple Ave. Reopened After Water Main Break
Water main break closes both lanes of South Maple Ave., but road reopens early Friday morning.
Bernards Township Police said South Maple Avenue, closed Thursday afternoon, had reopened Friday morning to traffic, following repairs.
The road was reopened as of about 5 a.m. on Friday, said Lt. Mike Shimsky, the township's Office of Emergency Management Coordinator.
Police had said that at about 3:30 p.m. on Thursday that, due to a water main break, South Maple Avenue is closed in both directions near Henry Street in Basking Ridge center.
The water main is maintained by New Jersey American Water Co., which had been notified on Thursday, said Police Capt. Ed Byrnes.
Byrnes said he did not know what caused the break at that local, and there was no local flooding.
However, Byrnes added that section of water main has "chronic problems," with periodic breaks along that stretch of the road, about every six months or so.
Police were asking drivers to plan alternate routes to avoid the area.
The water company was notified Thursday, and the expectation was that the company wuld repair the main and roadway before Friday's morning rush hour, Byrnes had said in an email on Thursday afternoon.
Patch will update this story as further information becomes available.
Todd Edelstein
6:20 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Since Oct. 2011, S.Maple Avenue has been closed a least four times due to the water main breaks. Mostly near Prospect Avenue, but it seems like there is a problem on this road. I hope the town sends some inspectors (This is a county Road, but I'm not sure who has the responsibility), to monitor how this break is dealt with and maybe try to determine why there is a break. Is the pipe hitting its life span or was the pipe not supported correctly by it's bedding? Maybe the entire length on Maple Ave should be inspected.
Dan C
2:13 am on Friday, June 22, 2012
This is the first time that Maple ave has been shut down in both directions as far as I can remember. They have been working in the area several times lately due to a problem connection at Prospect Ave, but this is the only time I have seen them shut down both sides... Most of the time it is just a crew working with traffic passing them at Prospect.
Todd Edelstein
9:06 pm on Friday, June 22, 2012
Well I remember that the traffic was detoured around Manchester at least twice. Maple narrows towards Henry Street and it would be safer close the road and to detour the traffic.
Paul A
7:48 am on Saturday, June 23, 2012
Considering they are planning on repaving that entire area this summer it would be prudent for them to replace the entire lenght of pipe from Manchester to Henry street. They have torn up the street between Juniper and Prospect and South Maple at least 6 times in the past 6 months. Disgrace!!!!!