Outages, Road Closures: Scotch Plains, Fanwood Storm Update

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — Roughly 300 residents in Scotch Plains and Fanwood remain without power as of Friday evening with restoration not expected for some until Monday night.

As of 9:45 p.m. Friday, 136 Scotch Plains residents and 40 Fanwood residents are without power, according to PSE&G.

"We understand that with so many customers working from home and with others unable to go out, you depend on us now more than ever. Our crews continue working 24/7 in 16-hour shifts to restore power across New Jersey," PSE&G shared on its Facebook page Friday morning.

Help is also available for residents who remain without power.

The Fanwood Carriage House (located adjacent to Borough Hall at 75 North Martine Ave.) is open for charging and cooling off. Residents are asked to wear a mask and continue to socially distance.

Bottled water and outlets will be provided. Those who come are asked to go to the Fanwood Police Department, and they will unlock the door.

PSE&G has also set up several Customer Comfort Stations. Following physical distancing and state health guidelines, customers can receive free water and ice by driving up and opening their trunks so employees can place water and ice in it. The comfort stations will be open Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Locations include:

• Bergen County Special Services Building, 275-285 Pascack Road, Paramus
• Kennedy Center (Willingboro Recreation and Parks Department), 429 John F. Kennedy Way, Willingboro
• Lawrence Township Municipal Building, 2207 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville
• Lumberton Township Municipal Complex, 34 Municipal Drive, Lumberton
• Steven Adubato Sports Complex, Near Branchbrook Park Drive & Bloomfield Avenue, Newark
• Warinanco Park Ice Skating Rink, 1 Park Drive, Roselle

Here is the most recent list of road closures in Scotch Plains:

• Chip Lou Lane (wires/branches down)- passable
• Dogwood Dr. (wires down)- not passable between Shackamaxon and Golf St.
• Church Ave. (trees/ wires down, utility pole snapped)- not passable between Watchung View Pl. and Birch St.
• Rivervale Court (Trees/wires down) residents can access through exit
• Cushing Road (Trees/wires down, utility pole snapped) - not passable, several areas with trees and wires down. (main area is between Knollwood and Julia Ct.)
• Heather Lane (wires/branches)- should be open soon
• Mountain Ave./ Acacia Rd (large branch into wires)- passable

Fanwood and Scotch Plains are also working to help with storm debris cleanup.

The Fanwood Department of Public Works will perform a special one-time curbside branch and storm debris pickup in all quadrants of the Borough beginning Monday. Residents are asked to place their debris curbside in the street by 7 a.m. for pickup. For questions, call the Department at 908-322-7404.

Scotch Plains will also be hosting a special storm cleanup of tree limbs, branches, and other storm-related debris beginning on Monday in order to give residents time to get items to the curb.

Residents are asked to cut limbs and branches into 4-foot lengths. Anything larger will not be removed. Debris should be left on the curb, if possible, and should not block the right of way.

Pickup will occur over the next two weeks and there will be one pass through each street. Union County will conduct the pick up on County roads.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

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