By: Richard L. Smith
Commuters and residents in Newark's East Ward are urged to avoid a section of Wilson Avenue following a street collapse that occurred Monday evening.
The incident took place around 8:20 p.m. near 280 Wilson Avenue, situated between Amsterdam Street and Avenue L.
Upon arrival, police discovered a large five-foot hole in the ground, and surrounding areas of the street also appeared unstable and began to cave in.
For public safety, the affected section of Wilson Avenue has been closed off, and police are directing traffic through alternative routes.
Motorists traveling on Wilson Avenue, particularly those heading towards the nearby Route 1&9 entrance ramp, should expect delays as detours are expected to impact traffic flow.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported in connection with the collapse.
The cause of the street collapse is still under investigation, but it appears to have been a water main break, as city officials assess the extent of the damage and plan necessary repairs.