Storm Knocks Out Several Traffic Lights In Beacon; Some Side Streets Blocked With Downed Trees and Wires

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Rte. 9D blocked at 2:15pm (may be open by the time you read this) coming off the Newburgh/Beacon bridge. Other streets blocked in neighborhoods down side streets as well.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Several street lights were out in Beacon today following a gusty windstorm. Police officers directed traffic in some intersections, like at Verplanck and Fishkill Avenue. At other intersections, like on the overpass of the Beacon/Newburgh bridge, drivers used their own best judgment as to when to cross when exiting I-84 or continuing on Route 9D (as of 2:15 pm).

Neighborhood intersections were blocked in increasing number, as tree limbs and/or wires fell. Cars attempting to cut through the neighborhoods created congestion in some areas, and dead-ends in others.

Trucks from the Beacon Highway Department were out through the neighborhoods during the storm.

According to reporting at the Daily Voice, “As of 1 pm on Monday, April 13, Central Hudson was reporting that 17,493 of its 120,208 customers were without power, while 2,580 of its 5,151 customers were reporting outages.” In Beacon, 2,455 were without power as of the publishing of that article at 1:12 pm. The National Weather Service has issued a severe weather warning.

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

As of 5:30 pm, Beacon’s Mayor’s Office said Central Hudson told them to expect power to be restored by this evening.

State Police were directing traffic at I-84 as of 5:30 pm. According to Anthony J. Ruggiero,
Beacon’s city administrator, those lights are part of the Town of Fishkill.

Traffic lights out on Verplanck, near Southern Dutchess Country Club, as of 5:30 pm
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin