Power Outage Causes Massive Traffic Delay in West Orange

Essex County officials said Wednesday afternoon a fallen tree knocked down power lines in and around the South Mountain Reservation, causing a massive traffic backup as commuters tried to exit from the county parking garage near Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange.

Essex County sheriff's officers were on the scene directing traffic and operating floodlights to help commuters make their way through the area and help them exit the parking garage.

Part of the traffic congestion was caused when commuters were being forced to merge into one lane while sheriff's deputies and Public Service Electric & Gas trucks took up the other lane to make repairs.

PSE&G workers said the high winds took down a tree in the area. When the tree fell, a second tree was also effected. The second tree ripped down the power lines.

Essex County Public Information Officer Anthony Puglisi said PSE&G told him power would be out in the area until 10 p.m. or 11 p.m.

There were no scheduled events at the South Mountain Arena Wednesday, although the arena was being used for freestyle skating and planned to close at 7 p.m. Puglisi said the zoo remained open until normal closing time.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.