Crime & Safety

All Lanes Reopened After Downed Telephone Wires on 101 Blocked Traffic in Both Directions

Motorists are still being advised to take Interstate 280 near Millbrae to avoid the gridlock.

All lanes reopened as of 6 pm.

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3:30 pm. Downed wires are blocking most northbound and southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 101 near Millbrae this afternoon, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Find out what's happening in Millbraewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The CHP received a report of the fallen wires at 2:53pm north of the Broadway exit near the Millbrae exit, CHP Officer Kevin Bartlett said.

Only two of four northbound lanes were open as of 3:30pm, and just one of five southbound lanes was open, he said.

Find out what's happening in Millbraewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Because the wires are hanging over the two rightmost northbound lanes, the CHP has restricted those northbound lanes to cars only, Bartlett said.

Vehicles that require more clearance, such as big-rigs, are advised to use other lanes at this time.

The CHP issued a Sig-alert at 3:26pm, and Bartlett said there is no estimate on when it might be lifted.

"We're not even close to knowing," he said.

Motorists are advised to use Interstate Highway 280 as an alternate route, Bartlett said.

Firefighters, PG&E crews and the CHP were responding to the scene, Bartlett said.

A PG&E spokeswoman confirmed that the downed wires are telephone wires, not PG&E power lines.

According to a San Mateo County fire dispatcher, an unknown number of Millbrae firefighters were called to respond at 2:57pm.

—Bay City News


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