Heavy Rain Buckles Saw Mill River Parkway; Southbound Lanes Closed Near Exit 113
Weekend downpours prompted a partial collapse in Westchester County; crews dispatched as officials assess damage to a route used by tens of thousands daily
Part of the Saw Mill River Parkway north of New York City remained closed Monday after heavy rain caused the southbound roadway to buckle, New York State Department of Transportation officials said.
The Dobbs Ferry Fire Department reported the closure of Saw Mill River Parkway southbound between Lawrence Street in Dobbs Ferry and Farragut Avenue in Hastings following what officials described as a collapse near Exit 113. The parkway’s northbound lanes were reopened, but state crews were working to assess and repair damage to the southbound lanes, according to the DOT.
Photos shared by the Dobbs Ferry Fire Department show large sections of pavement displaced and irregular gaps in the roadway. The DOT said crews were immediately dispatched to evaluate the structural condition, secure the scene and begin repairs. No injuries were reported in initial accounts from local authorities.
Communities near Hastings and Dobbs Ferry received more than 1 inch of rain over the period from Friday into Saturday, with nearly 2 inches recorded in Scarsdale, the FOX Forecast Center reported. Local officials noted that the stretch of parkway affected typically is not considered prone to flooding.
The Saw Mill River Parkway carries heavy commuter traffic; state data estimate average daily volumes of about 47,000 vehicles in the corridor. The closure of southbound lanes forced officials to direct drivers to alternate routes while engineers completed inspections and made temporary repairs to stabilize the roadway.
DOT officials said their crews would prioritize reopening the southbound lanes as soon as it is safe to do so. The timeline for full repairs has not been announced. Local emergency services advised motorists to avoid the area and follow posted detours.
The collapse is the latest weather-related strain on infrastructure in the region. Federal climate records show an increase in heavy precipitation events across the Northeast in recent decades, a trend officials say can stress roadways, drainage systems and bridges. Local authorities will investigate the precise causes of the pavement failure, including whether subsurface erosion, drainage blockage or an underlying structural weakness contributed to the collapse.
State and local officials urged residents to monitor traffic advisories and official DOT channels for updates. Further details, including repair schedules and potential traffic restrictions, will be released as engineers complete their assessment and begin reconstruction work.