Gas Leak Closes Block Of Main Street During Second Saturday

If you were wondering what the hours-long street closure was all about last Saturday on a block of Main Street that houses retail destinations like The Pandorica, Play, Beetle and Fred, Kitchen Sink and others, you can know that despite what the yellow tape said (Crime Scene Do Not Cross), it was really a gas leak.

Central Hudson was on the scene to repair the leak. Residents reported that they could smell the gas. One rumor included a rupture, but people in the area did not hear anything, and Beacon’s City Manager Anthony Ruggiero confirms that there was no rupture.

Anthony also stated via an email interview with A Little Beacon Blog that he does not believe future work is needed to the site, and a new street closure is not anticipated.

This happened on a busy day for Beacon businesses and art galleries, as it was a combined weekend of Second Saturday and Columbus Day/Indigenous People’s Day, which for many is a three-day holiday weekend. Beacon sidewalks were quite busy with people enjoying the early Autumn weather. Some retail destinations were closed for hours as Central Hudson made repairs.

Water Main Break In Beacon On Rte. 52 Near Dunkin' Donuts Thursday Morning

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

On Thursday morning in Beacon, a water main broke on Route 52 near Dunkin’ Donuts, causing traffic jams for the morning commute. One parent of middle schoolers at Rombout Middle School said she was stuck in traffic, and thought it was a result of the Beacon High School re-opening after Wednesday’s closure. But after learning about the water main break, she realized that could have been the problem.

“The road was closed from Prospect Avenue in Fishkill to Blackburn Avenue” (in Beacon, by Ron’s Ice Cream), confirmed Anthony Ruggiero, the City Administrator for Beacon. By 11:30 am, cars were being routed for one lane of traffic, and by 12 pm the road was open and the break fixed. The Beacon Highway Department was on it like bonnets to close up the street and sweep it.

The Barking Frog, located across the street and down the road a bit from Dunkin’ Donuts, was pleased with Beacon’s response, saying via A Little Beacon Blog’s Instagram: “Great job guys! We were so happy to be able to open this afternoon!!!!”

If you noticed low water pressure this morning, it was a result of the water main break, confirmed Anthony when we inquired. No one lost water, he added.

The City of Beacon gave an overview of water and sewer pipe infrastructure in Beacon, and the city’s current and future plans to upgrade it during the March 4, 2019, City Council meeting. You can read about that here in this article on A Little Beacon Blog. The article includes a breakdown of what was done to address the sewer pipe break back in February 2019.

Main Street Closure Update After Sewer Collapse at Main Street and Tioronda Avenue

Main Street One-Lane Update from the City of Beacon

The City Administrator for the City of Beacon, Anthony J. Ruggiero, M.P.A., has issued this update:

There has been a sewer collapse at the intersection of Main Street and Tioronda Avenue. 

MAY 10: Starting Thursday, May 10, Main Street will be one lane of traffic from Tioronda Avenue (Howland Cultural Center) to Brothers Restaurant to allow the contractor to start the sewer bypass. 

MAY 14 - 16 (approx.): Starting on Monday, May 14, Main Street will be closed to through traffic from Schenck Avenue (Ella's Bellas) to East Main Street (Dummy Light) for approximately three days, until Wednesday, May 16.  The contractor will be working through the night to limit the disturbance on this section of Main Street. Parking in this area will be limited. 

Sidewalks will remain open.
 
Notices have been distributed to the business and property owners and appropriate signage will be placed.