Sunrise reopens after fallen pole closed road

A utility pole damaged in Tropical Storm Irene fell Friday morning across Sunrise Highway in Brookhaven, closing the road for more than four hours just a day after LIPA had been warned the pole was ready to topple, the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office said.

The downed lines closed Sunrise Highway between Exit 56, Station Road, and Exit 57, Yaphank Avenue, at 10:29 a.m., and all lanes were reopened shortly before 3 p.m., officials said.

The sheriff's office said LIPA was informed of the problem at 2 p.m. Thursday.

LIPA spokeswoman Vanessa Baird-Streeter said there were "no LIPA wires involved" in the downed pole.

"These were cable wires that were clipped by a large truck driving on Sunrise Highway," she said Friday afternoon. "We had been out to the site yesterday to stabilize a broken pole. The road has been closed for traffic while cable wires are removed [and] replaced. A new pole has already been set."

No one was injured.

Traffic was diverted south to Montauk Highway or north to Woodside Avenue and Horseblock Road, sheriffs said.