Parks Underwater, Bridges Closed In Somerset County: Photos, Videos

Updated as of 10:20 a.m. on Wednesday

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ ? As some rivers have yet to crest and major flooding continues, many roads and bridges have closed including Route 206 in both directions from Somerville to Hillsborough.

The Somerset County Parks Commission closed Duke Island Park, Natirar, North Branch Park, South Branch Greenway Trail, & Raritan River Greenway Trail due to flooding on Wednesday.

The entire Duke Island Park is underwater. See the video below:

"Despite the rains letting up, many of our creeks, streams, and rivers will not crest until this afternoon. Localized flooding will continue into the afternoon, and drivers should continue to obey road closures and avoid ANY standing water," according to Somerset County.

The Raritan River is up against the Basilone Bridge and Nevius Bridge as of 10 a.m. causing bother to close on Wednesday. See the video below:

Most Somerset County services will operate as scheduled, but those below are working on a limited or adjusted basis. If a service or department is not listed below, it is currently operating as normal.

• Somerset County Clerk - Will be open until 4 p.m., with extended Wednesday hours suspended. Extended Wednesday hours will return on Wednesday, January 17.
• Richard Hall Community Health & Wellness Center -- Will be open as scheduled, but all appointed will be held remotely.
• Youth Services - The Office of Youth Services and the Family Crisis Intervention Unit will be closed today but all staff will be available remotely. The Family Crisis Intervention Unit can be reached at 908-704-6330 and the Planning Unit can be reached at 908-704-6333.

Multiple Somerset County rivers are already at the major flood stage prompting Somerset County to issue a State of Emergency that remains in effect for the duration of the storm.

"All non-essential travel should be curtailed, and only essential vehicles should be on the road," according to the County.

For those who are already on the roads or may be required to travel, the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management cautions drivers to respect road closures and never to drive into standing water. Even seemingly low waters could be masking damaged roads that may disable a vehicle, and rising waters could result in severe injuries and possibly death.

Flood Gates/River Flooding

The flood gate on East Street in Bound Brook closed at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, announced Bound Brook Police.

"This is a precautionary action as the Raritan River is predicted to crest at a level slightly below the required level for flood gate closure," said police.

As of 10:20 a.m., the Raritan River in Bound Brook has risen to the moderate flooding stage of 31.97 feet and is expected to hit above the major flooding stage at 33.8 feet by 12 p.m. on Wednesday.

There are currently no plans to close the South Main St. Flood Gate to South Bound Brook. This is subject to change.

The Raritan River at Manville has risen to the moderate flood stage at 19.25 feet and is expected to rise to 20.6 feet, the major flood stage, before 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

The North Branch River at South Branch continues to remain at the major flood stage at 14.28 feet.

The Millstone River at Griggstown also remains at the major flood stage at 15.81 feet.

The Lamington (Black) River at Burnt Mills in Bedminster was at the major flood stage at 13.74 feet this morning but has dropped to action level at 10 feet.

Outages

As of 10:25 a.m., PSE&G is reporting 789 customers without power on Wednesday. The majority of the outages are reported in Franklin, Hillsborough, and Montgomery.

JCP&L is reporting more than 264 without power in Bedminster, Bernards, Bernardsville, Branchburg, Bridgewater, Hillsborough, Hillsborough, Peapack and Gladstone, and Warren.

Road Closures

Here is the list of road closures as of 10:25 a.m.

• Basking Ridge - Newell Drive (REOPENED)
• Basking Ridge - Hardscrabble Road between Childs Rd & Butternut Ln (REOPENED)
• Basking Ridge - Mt Airy Road between Chimney Ash Farm Ln & Countryside Dr due to a utility pole over the roadway & downed power lines
• Basking Ridge - Acken Rd south of Spring Valley Blvd at Warren Township line
• Basking Ridge - Madisonville Road at the Harding Township line (REOPENED)
• Basking Ridge - Lord Stirling Road at the Long Hill Township line
• Bedminster - All lanes on Route 206 on the northbound ramp to River Road
• Bedminster - Lamington Rd between Rattlesnake Bridge Rd to Hunterdon County Line (REOPENED)
• Bedminster - Rattlesnake Bridge Rd between Lamington Rd and RTE 78 (REOPENED)
• Bedminster - Burnt Mills Rd Closed from Rattlesnake Rd to Cowperthwaite Rd
• Branchburg - Opie Road from River Rd/Picket Place
• Branchburg - Black Point Road going into Hillsborough
• Branchburg - Woodfern Road near Black Point
• Branchburg - South Branch Road at Chubb Way
• Branchburg- Burnt Mills Road
• Branchburg - River Road at Station Road (Near Train Station)
• Branchburg - South Branch Road at Ronan Way
• Branchburg - South Branch Road at Pleasant Run Road
• Branchburg - Old York Road going into Bridgewater
• Branchburg - Elm Street by the bridge into Hillsborough
• Branchburg/Hillsborough - Studdiford Bridge
• Branchburg/Bridgewater - 2 Bridges Old York Road between Branchburg and Bridgewater
• Bridgewater - Shephard Avenue and Southside Avenue
• Bridgewater - Old York Road from Chestnut Street to Woodmere Avenue
• Bridgewater/Raritan - Old York Road Between Woodmere Street in Raritan Borough and Chestnut St in Bridgewater Township
• Green Brook - Washington Avenue
• Hillsborough/Raritan - Route 206 North between Somerset Street and Dukes Parkway East
• Hillsborough - River rd at Blackpoint
• Hillsborough - Montgomery rd by bridge
• Hillsborough - Three Bridges rd at Elm St bridge
• Hillsborough - Hockenbury Rd between Amwell rd and Three Bridges rd
• Hillsborough - River rd at Opie
• Hillsborough - Clawson ave between 1st and 4th
• Hillsborough - Riverside dr. between Mill lane and Clawson
• Hillsborough - River rd at Mill Lane
• Hillsborough - Blackwells Mills
• Hillsborough - Kilmer dr at Michelle rd, downed tree
• Hillsborough - Willow rd at the Montgomery border, pole fire
• Hillsborough - Dukes Parkway East between Johanson Avenue and Route 206
• Hillsborough - Dukes Parkway East between Kimberly Road and Taylor Avenue
• Hillsborough - Amwell Road between Blackpoint Road and Long Hill Road
• Hillsborough - River Road between Roycefield Road and Beekman Lane
• Hillsborough - Millstone River Road between Amsterdam and Yorktown Road
• Franklin/Montgomery - Griggstown Causeway
• Manville - Main Street Underpass is flooded. Main Street is now closed between Brooks Blvd. and South Street.
• Montgomery - Millstone River Road between Dead Tree Run and Bridgeport Road
• Montgomery - Millstone River Road between Staats Farm Road and Belle Mead Griggstown Road
• Raritan - Basilone Bridge
• Raritan - Orlando Drive
• Warren - Dead River Road

Some traffic lights are also not working in Montgomery:

• Route 206 at Harlingen Road
• Route 206 at Sunset Road
• Route 601 at Montgomery High School
• Route 601 at Route 518

Bridgewater Township Senior Center will also be closed on Wednesday. Normal operations will resume on Thursday

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