UPDATE: Many South Brunswick Roads Still Blocked

7:30 p.m.

South Brunswick is still dealing with a number of blocked roads and power outages Monday evening, as the area continues recovering from Hurricane Irene. Township officials are expecting a significant traffic backup Tuesday morning.

"The lights are still out in many areas on Route 1 and it is making it very difficult to get across town," said Public Affairs Coordinator Ron Schmalz via email. "I expect a great deal of traffic during rush hour tomorrow morning when more people return to work."

The following areas are still problem spots for the township as of 7 p.m. Tuesday.

• New Road between Ridge and Route 1 is still closed due to three downed poles and wires.
• Miller Road is still closed due to trees and wires.
• Davidson Mill Road has wires and people cannot drive through at Fresh Ponds Road.
• Fresh Ponds road is blocked with wires and trees.
• Rhode Hall east of Fresh Ponds is blocked with wires and poles.
• Stouts Lane near Route 522 is blocked with trees and wires.
• Stouts Lane at the bike path is blocked by trees.
• Riva Ave near the dam is blocked with flood water and trees.
• Kendall Road is blocked at multiple locations by downed trees and wires.
• The Friendship Road bridge was washed away, Mayor Frank Gambatese said earlier Monday. Middlesex County officials were out to inspect the site today and will make its repair a priority, according to Schmalz.
• Prospect Street is blocked by trees and wires.
• Old Road is blocked by trees. Schmalz said he talked to Somerset County and the area will be made a priority.
• New York Ave. is blocked by wires.
• Docks Corner Road is blocked by trees, poles and wires.
• Traffic lights are still out Route 1 and New Road.
• Route 1 and Route 522 traffic light is still out.
• Light is still out at Whispering Woods.
• Pump Station 6 is experiencing significant flooding.

Power is still out at the Oak Woods Senior residence. Schmalz said the seniors are sheltering in place and didn't want to leave.  Staff is on site to check on them constantly, he said. 

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11:30 a.m.

South Brunswick officials are still out Monday morning assessing damage from Hurricane Irene to the township. There are hundreds of trees down throughout South Brunswick and many roads are still impassable.

"We're riding around seeing what roads are open and to tell you the truth it's really scary what this storm caused," said Mayor Frank Gambatese Monday morning. "I want to commend our police department, fire, rescue and public works department for the work they did throughout the storm. These guys worked their tails off and they're a big part of the reason why South Brunswick was ranked twenty-second in the country by Money Magazine. They all did an unbelievabe job and I commend all of them."

There are still a large number of issues being confronted by the township Office of Emergency Management related to the storm. There have been no reported issues with water quality.

Power is still out for a large portion of the township and PSE&G is unable at this time to give a time frame for full restoration. The company said yesterday with some areas possibly without power through the first week of September.

The following areas are still affected by power outages:

• Fresh Impression Development
• Foxhill Development
• High Gate Development
• Oakwood Apartments - 700 Woods Lane
• Pinter Lane
• Kendall Road area
• Parts of Fresh Ponds Road
• South Ridge Hills Complex
• Monmouth Mobile Homes
• Route 1 in the area of Ridge Road
• Stouts Lane
• Traffic lights remain out on Route 1 at 522, Whispering Woods, and New Road. 

"Most of the power has been restored along Route 27, though when we drive through Kendall Park there are still a ton of wires and trees down," Gambatese said. "South of New Road looks okay, but north of New Road and on Sand Hills Road there are still a lot of issues and trees down."

Route 1 and Route 130 have been reopened for the entire length in South Brunswick, though in New Brunswick Route 1 is still reportedly heavily flooded causing issues on the Route 18 and New Jersey Turnpike ramps. 

Route 27 at the Princeton border remains closed.

DPW is still working on picking up debris from the hundreds of trees that have fallen throughout town.

"Friendship Road is still a mess and can't be reopened," Gambatese said. "It looks like the water washed the bridge away. I was driving yesterday with (Chief Raymond Hayducka) and a car was following us for awhile. We asked them what they were doing and they said they were driving around for three hours trying to find a way out of South Brunswick to Plainsboro, but all the major connecting roads were out.

"So we'll have a better idea later this afternoon of where we stand."

Patch will continue to provide status updates on South Brunswick roads and power as Monday progresses.