Route 9 In Natick Reopened After Crews Fix Downed Wires

NATICK (CBS) – Route 9 in Natick is reopened after a telephone pole split in half by an overnight storm shut down the busy road through the morning commute.

With power lines draped across the road right in front of the Natick Mall, Eversource crews told WBZ-TV the safest and quickest way to solve the problem was to shut everything down.

Related: Severe Thunderstorms Leave Widespread Power Outages, Damage

"On Route 9 with traffic at 55 MPH you can't open the road where the guys are working. It's easier to reroute traffic and get them away from the damage. That way our guys are safe and the public is safe," Scott Awiszus of Eversource said.

Route 9 was closed around 5 a.m. and reopened just before noon.

Drivers said the closure caused traffic headaches.

Detours were put in place during the closure.

Nearby Speen Street was open in both directions, though there was no access to Route 9 from the road.

Businesses at the Natick Mall were not impacted by the downed wires.