Crime & Safety

Manhole Explosions Tie Up Central Greenwich Traffic

Explosions have limited traffic on two major arteries in central Greenwich.


Two manhole explosions within minutes of one another Tuesday afternoon is wreaking havoc with traffic in central Greenwich. 

Just before 5 p.m. an explosion with smoke coming from an electrical vault on Greenwich Avenue at Fawcett Place was reported. As Greenwich Fire Department crews were investigating that incident, a second manhole explosion was reported five minutes later on East Putnam Avenue at Sherwood Place, across from the Whole Foods market.

According to Greenwich emergency radio dispatches, traffic at the East Putnam Avenue scene is limited with traffic banned from Sherwood at the intersections of East Putnam and on William Street. Traffic is reportedly backed up on East Putnam Avenue into Cos Cob.

At the request of Greenwich fire command, police have shutdown southbound traffic on Greenwich Avenue at Arch Street, as well as diverting traffic from The Avenue by closing the Fawcett Place intersection of Mason Street. A BMW was reportedly parked atop the electrical vault and after police located the owner, the Greenwich Deputy Fire Chief moved the car.

The fire department requested Connecticut Light & Power crews be dispatched to both scenes.

Police are reporting heavy traffic conditions with the rush hour with traffic trying to use Exit 3 of I-95. Officers have requested barricades from the Department of Public Works to help with traffic control.

Meanwhile, southbound I-95 traffic heading towards Exit 2 is backed up as the Exit 2 off-ramp remains closed — hours after a tractor-trailer crash knocked down a utility pole and wires at the end of the ramp.


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