Power lines keep Hwy 101 shut down into Saturday
PG&E crews scrambling to restore service to thousands of customers
BURLINGAME, Calif. (KTVU and wires) -- U.S. Highway 101 remains blocked in both directions in Burlingame Saturday morning due to downed high-voltage power lines knocked over by a crane, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Traffic was expected to remain blocked until approximately 4 a.m. as of early Saturday morning, but now CHP and PG&E officials indicated the closure could continue as late as 5 p.m..
Drivers are advised to use Interstate Highway 280 as an alternate route.
The accident on southbound U.S. Highway 101 just south of Broadway was reported just after 9:30 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.
The CHP initially said a tractor-trailer struck a power pole.
Later reports confirmed a that a crane at the Broadway onramp hit a large electric transmission tower, collapsing the top part of it and knocking high-voltage power lines down across both northbound and southbound lanes.
Guidi said that the lines it knocked down were high-voltage transmission lines, not just local distribution lines.
The accident caused power to flicker in several locations throughout the Bay Area, including at AT&T Park, Guidi said. However, it has not caused any power outages.
Traffic was heavily backed up and cars are being diverted off the freeway at Anza Boulevard in the northbound direction and at Millbrae Avenue in the southbound direction, the CHP said.
Guidi said drivers should avoid coming into contact with the power lines, and anyone on the freeway or who thinks their vehicle might have come into contact with the lines should remain in their vehicles until fire officials tell them it is safe to come out.
Treat all power lines as if they are energized and dangerous, and be aware of any trees, pools of water or objects that might be in contact with the lines.