Saw Mill River Parkway collapse blamed on too much rain

A giant sinkhole that opened on a Westchester County highway early Monday, forcing road closures, was weather-related, authorities said in a statement Monday.

Chopper 4 was over the scene as a bulldozer cruised through a giant sinkhole on the Saw Mill River Parkway, at exit 13 (Farragut Avenue) in Hastings-on-Hudson. The roadway was shut down in both directions for a time, but the northbound side reopened by about 11 a.m. Efforts were being made to reopen the southbound lanes.

The state Department of Transportation, which maintains and repairs the highway, said this weekend’s rainy weather caused the collapse. The area isn’t prone to flooding, and sees about 47,000 vehicles traverse it daily

Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.

Heavy rain and powerful storms thrashed the tri-state area over the weekend, tearing down trees and triggering a flurry of severe thunderstorm warnings, as well as tornado alerts for parts of New Jersey.