This just in from the Albany Times-Union: An explosion this morning on a gas main near Guilderland shut down a six-mile stretch of the Thruway, and nearby homes are being evacuated.
Emergency workers and firefighters rushed to a construction site accident four miles north of Thruway Exit 23. The southbound lanes and traffic in both directions were rerouted following the 11 a.m. explosion.
"There was an enormous hissing sound, it looked like a small tornado of dust and a lot of construction workers were running around frantically. I got a strong whiff of gas," said motorist John Williams, who was driving north on the Thruway in his Saab with the windows rolled down.
NY-Alert says the northbound lanes are now open.
*Update, 1pm: All lanes are now open. (NY-Alert).
