The southbound lanes of the Palisades Interstate Parkway between the Bear Mountain Bridge circle and Exit 19 were cleared and reopened July 8, but northbound drivers still have to get off the PIP and follow detours around road washouts.
The roadway was heavily damaged during the July 5 rainstorms that also caused problems at Bear Mountain State Park.
New York State Parkway Police Sgt. James Kellegher said on July 8 that work was still ongoing to reopen the northbound PIP stretch around Bear Mountain.
New York State Department of Transportation officials did not immediately respond July 8 for comment.
The northbound detour leads vehicles off Exit 19/Perkins Memorial Drive, then along Seven Lakes Drive, which loops around to connect with Route 9W/202 northbound to the traffic circle.
Bear Mountain had service interruptions that stemmed from a falling tree that caught both the electric feed and uprooted a water main, according to Palisades Interstate Park Commission Executive Director Joshua Laird. “Since it happened overnight, our water storage tank drained before we realized what had happened.”
The state park’s water system relies on gravity, not pumps, so a simple refill fixed the issue.
Electrical transmission was restored by the morning of July 7.
This article may update.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Palisades Parkway south reopens by Bear Mountain; north detours remain
Reporting by Nancy Cutler, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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By Nancy Cutler, Rockland/Westchester Journal News | USA TODAY Network
