Manhole Explosion Closes Franklin Avenue

[Editor's Note – Update: The road was reopened Friday night.]

Franklin Avenue was closed for much of Friday after an explosion beneath a manhole near the Walnut Street intersection.

According to Police Chief John Ward, a witnesses spotted an explosion that pushed off the manhole cover near the Getty Station at 9:05 a.m. Police, fire and PSE&G responded to the scene.

A perimeter was set up, and Franklin Ave. was closed from Oak Street to Cottage Place to ensure the public's safety, officials said.

The incident coincides with sporadic power outages at the light at Van Dien and Linwood, as well as at the 1200 East Ridgewood Avenue office building. The light at that intersection had power restored a short time after the explosion, Ward said. He couldn't be sure the incidents were related, but suspected they were.

PSE&G's high voltage electric lines run from the substation on Chestnut Street through the exploded manhole and up the grid on the east side of town.

"Thankfully nobody was injured," Ward said, adding, "We're not taking any chances."