Flooding Blocks I-280 In San Jose

SANTA CLARA VALLEY, CA — All lanes of southbound Interstate Highway 280 near the state Highway 87 interchange in San Jose are now open after a blown fuse at a nearby pump house led to the flooding of the roadway, according to the California Highway Patrol. The flooding was initially reported around 4:15 a.m. Wednesday near the connector ramp to northbound Highway 87, CHP officials said.

CHP Officer Ross Lee said multiple lanes had to be closed off as well as the connecting ramp until about 11 a.m. due to the water gathering on the highway.

The blown fuse pumps out any water from the highway, Lee said. He was not sure where the water came from, but it pooled up to block all but the left southbound lane.

The fuse was replaced, but the lane closures during the process caused major traffic going in the southbound direction, Lee said.

"Typically the southbound side does not have much morning rush hour traffic but it was very backed up for a long time because just one lane was open and people had to merge into that or take alternate routes to 87," Lee said.

By Bay City News Service

Photo via CHP San Jose Twitter page