Water main break floods Cross Bronx Expressway

NEW YORK - A water main break on Jerome Avenue in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx caused major traffic delays Thursday morning and forced the closure of the Cross Bronx Expressway.

Seven cars were stranded and eight people were rescued from their flooded vehicles, a Fire Department spokesperson said. No injuries were reported. 

Eastbound traffic on the Cross Bronx was diverted at the Major Deegan Expressway. Westbound traffic was diverted at Third Avenue.

There were also major delays on the George Washington Bridge. Motorists were advised to avoid the area and use alternate routes including the Mario Cuomo/Tappan Zee Bridge,  Lincoln, or Holland Tunnels. 

New York City Transit said the No. 4 subway line was bypassing 176 St. in both directions for several hours while crews addressed water leakage in the station.

The water main erupted at about 3:30 a.m. Traffic was flowing again on the Cross Bronx later in the morning.