An aerial view of Menlo Park, California.
Jonathan Clark/Getty ImagesTraffic on Highway 101 near Menlo Park has been halted in both directions due to a downed tree causing damage to a nearby power line, PG&E confirmed.
The utilities company said in a statement shared with SFGATE that impacts from this week’s storm system caused a tree to fall down along Highway 101 between Marsh Road and Willow Road in Menlo Park. The tree caused damage to a PG&E power line that crosses the highway and needs to be removed before crews can begin emergency repair work, the statement said.
In order for crews to replace the wire, traffic in both directions needs to be stopped until the work is finished. PG&E predicts that the tree will be removed and the span of wire will be replaced by 6 p.m. on Feb. 23.
⚠️UPDATE: PG&E is working w/ CalTrans & the CHP to safely conduct repair work occurring near hwy 101⚠️
• A downed tree along Hwy 101 caused damage to a PG&E power line.
• Prior to PG&E making repairs to this section of line, the fallen tree needs to be removed. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/BAPvu2DGhE— Pacific Gas & Electric (@PGE4Me) February 23, 2023
According to PG&E, more than 80% of the company’s Bay Area crews are currently out working to restore power to communities in San Mateo County that have been heavily impacted by winds and precipitation – and in some cases, snow. Approximately 4,000 customers in the Belle Haven neighborhood of Menlo Park, where Highway 101 is shut down, are without power, PG&E announced in a tweet.
“In addition, we are prepared to respond to snow-related outages which could cause trees or limbs to topple, with vegetation impacts continuing to be the main cause of outages,” the statement said.
PG&E is currently working with Caltrans and California Highway Patrol to conduct the repair work on Highway 101.