Crime & Safety

Expect Delays on Route 35 SB, Approaching Bethany/Poole Ave. in Hazlet

Pole down and water main break reported. Repair crews on scene.

A motor vehicle accident early Wednesday morning took out a utlity pole on Route 35 South near Poole Avenue, just before the Village Court office complex.

Southbound traffic approaching the intersection in front of K-Mart was  congested during the morning rush hour. Only one lane is open near the site of the accident between Bethany/Poole Ave and Miller Ave. The northbound side of Route 35 is open.

The Bethany Road turn-off to access Route 35 is closed with orange cones. A multitude of utility crews and police vehicles are on the scene.

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"A car hit the utility pole and knocked it down," said Ken Sullivan, controller at Shoreland Water Co. in Hazlet. This morning, when a utility company went to dig the hole to replace the pole, they hit a water main. "We now have to replace a three foot section of the main. It will take half a day to do it," said Sullivan.

JCP&L was not at fault, said spokesman Ron Morano. "It was not a JCP&L crew that struck a water main. Our trucks are on the scene, but we were not involved in the water main break."

Find out what's happening in Holmdel-Hazletwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Sullivan said the water main was ruptured around 8 a.m. A utlity crew apparently missed the "markout" indicating the main several feet below the surface. "It's painted on the ground. They misinterpreted it, or they missed it," said Sullivan.

Representatives of Shorelands, Verizon, JCP&L, and other companies are parked along the shoulder. State Police, Hazlet and Holmdel Police are also on the scene.

Once the water main is repaired, some customers may see a discoloration in the water as sediment is kicked up by the surge. But customers should just let the tap run until it is clear. There is no "boil water alert," he said.

There were no serious injuries reported in the rollover accident, which occurred around 3:18 a.m.

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