Lakewood, NJ — A downed utility pole forced the closure of both directions of U.S. Route 9 in Lakewood early Sunday, disrupting traffic through one of Ocean County’s busiest corridors.

According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the incident was reported at approximately 7:07 a.m. on U.S. Route 9 south of County Route 628 (Prospect Street).

All lanes closed

Transportation officials said all northbound and southbound lanes were closed while emergency crews responded to the scene.

Authorities had not immediately announced what caused the utility pole to fall or provided an estimated time for the roadway to reopen.

Motorists urged to avoid the area

Drivers were advised to avoid the area and seek alternate routes while utility crews worked to remove the damaged pole and restore safe travel conditions.

The closure follows severe thunderstorms that moved through Ocean County, causing scattered damage and power-related incidents across the region.

Source: New Jersey Department of Transportation.