Crash with downed lines in Harris Township closes roads, U.S. Route 322 exit ramp
A vehicle crash with downed wires caused the hourslong closure of U.S. Route 322 Oak Hall exit ramps and other roads on Wednesday.
The exit ramps at Oak Hall on Route 322 were closed due to downed power lines on Route 3010 (Warner Road) in Harris Township, according to 511 PA.
Additionally, Warner Boulevard between Boal Avenue and the Route 322 Bypass, and Mary Elizabeth Street between Hemlock Street and Warner Boulevard were closed, Harris Township posted on Facebook. The crash was cleared and the road reopened around 5 p.m., according to PennDOT.
The damage was caused by a dump truck crash that occurred just before 7 a.m. Wednesday at Mary Elizabeth Street and Brandywine Drive, according to Boalsburg Fire Company, which posted on Facebook that there were no injuries to the driver of the truck.
The crash caused “significant damage” to the Warner Boulevard/Mary Elizabeth Street/Brandywine Drive traffic signal, Harris Township wrote on Facebook Wednesday afternoon. The damaged signal head was removed, and additional repairs to the signal and removal of the pole parts will be done by early Thursday.
The signals will be on “flash” until a portable traffic signal can be brought in, which will likely be early next week, the post stated.
“The portable signal will remain in place until we are able to get new poles and signal heads. We’ve been told there is a 6 months lead time on the poles from the manufacturer, so we anticipate the portable signal remaining in place until spring. The portable signal is housed in a trailer, which will be placed on the bike path along Warner Boulevard,” the post read.
Traffic control will assist with students getting to school Monday morning (State College Area School District students have no classes Thursday or Friday). The township plans to have the portable traffic signal in place by the time school ends on Monday.
Between 21-100 people were without power in the Boalsburg area due to the crash, according to outage information on FirstEnergy Corp’s website. Most had power restored by late Wednesday afternoon.
This story was originally published October 27, 2021 at 9:22 AM.
