WEST NYACK, NY — Southbound traffic on the New York State Thruway was crawling through eastern Rockland County the morning after a high-voltage wire dangled over I-87 and snarled traffic all over the region.

The highway was closed for hours in both directions as Orange & Rockland Utilities worked to repair the damage. New York State police for a time diverted southbound traffic off at Exit 14- Spring Valley/Nanuet/Rt 59 and northbound traffic off at diverted at Exit 12- West Nyack/ Rt 303.

Once the thruway reopened, lane closures occurred intermittently overnight during repairs.

The transmission support wire had snapped loose from its moorings. It was draped over electric transmission lines about 100 feet over the Thruway in West Nyack yesterday afternoon, O&R officials said.

The wire drew concerns from officials that it might affect traffic in the northernmost lane. The Thruway was closed briefly until an O&R safety inspection permitted the re-opening in time for rush hour.

Then, O&R, Thruway officials and State Police began planning repairs for later in the evening when traffic was lighter. Troopers stopped Thruway traffic at about 11:30 p.m. for roughly 15 minutes. O&R crews had made the necessary preparatory repairs to a broken crossarm on a wooden transmission pole. Traffic resumed without incident by 11:45 p.m.

O&R is investigating the cause of the incident.

This morning, traffic cameras showed heavy southbound traffic, not unusual during the morning commute.

From the camera at Exit 13:

From the camera at Exit 12:

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.