Rt. 130 At Rt. 522 Likely Closed Through Saturday; Avoid Area

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — As you prepare for your evening commute home Friday afternoon, continue to avoid the area of Rt. 130 at Rt. 522. That intersection was the scene of a major accident Thursday night that brought down a utility pole, and the roads will likely remain closed into Saturday, police warned. As you might have experienced, there were severe traffic delays at Rt. 130 and Rt. 522 during the Friday morning commute.

In short, avoid the area at all costs today and tonight! Police anticipate that Friday’s evening rush hour will have significant delays with multiple roads and intersections being gridlocked; traffic backlog may stretch as far back as to the Turnpike. Police are advising South Brunswick residents to expect extensive delays on the following roads:

• Route 130
• Route 522 (Dayton)
• Ridge Road (Dayton)
• Georges Road
• Route 535
• Route 32
• NJ Turnpike Exit 8A
• Deans Rhode Hall Road
• Fresh Ponds Road

Drivers should use Route 1 or the New Jersey Turnpike as an alternate route.

The initial crash took place at 9:53 p.m. Thursday: A 27-year-old male driver suffered a medical condition and lost control of the 2017 GMC pickup he was driving, crashing into a utility pole and splitting it in half. The pole had several power lines attached to it; the live electric lines landed across the highway, blocking all travel. The pickup truck also struck a light station.

The driver was taken by Monmouth Junction First Aid Squad and paramedics to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

The South Brunswick Office of Emergency Management has declared a traffic emergency for the roadways impacted in and around the crash site. A dozen officers have been working to set up detours and assist schools and businesses in the area.

Photo via South Brunswick police.