South Maple Ave. Reopened After Water Main Break

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.