Summit Grapples with Flooded Streets After Heavy Storm

When the clouds finally broke over Summit on Tuesday evening, the rain didn’t just drizzle—it hammered the town like a drumbeat, turning quiet streets into rushing rivers. Within an hour, the New Jersey Department of Transportation announced that a handful of major routes were officially closed.

First on the list was Route 24, a busy artery that normally hums with rush‑hour traffic. A few inches of standing water had already made the pavement slick, but the real problem was the small culvert near the downtown bridge that simply couldn’t keep up. Water surged over the edge, flooding the lane and forcing officials to erect temporary barriers.

Not long after, County Road 511 and Summit Avenue followed suit. Drivers reported waist‑deep pools that made even the smallest vehicles wobble. "I was about to turn onto Summit Avenue when I saw the water coming up to my headlights," said local resident Maria Torres. "I had to turn back and sit in my car for ten minutes until the police directed me to an alternate route."

Emergency responders, already stretched thin from earlier calls, scrambled to set up detour signs and direct traffic away from the worst‑hit sections. The Summit Police Department worked hand‑in‑hand with the town’s public works crew, who began pumping water out of the most critical intersections. By late night, the flow had eased, but officials warned that the closures could linger until the water recedes completely.

Meanwhile, commuters tried to make the best of a soggy situation. Some opted for ride‑sharing apps, others took the train from the Summit station, and a few brave souls simply walked, wading through ankle‑deep puddles while checking their phones for updates. "It’s frustrating, but you learn to expect the unexpected in New Jersey weather," joked local teacher Kevin Liu, who’s now contemplating a work‑from‑home day.

Mayor Thomas Jones addressed the crowd at a hastily arranged press conference, assuring residents that the town is monitoring the situation around the clock. "Our priority is safety," he said. "We’ll keep the roads closed as long as needed, and we’re coordinating with the state to get the necessary equipment back on the streets as quickly as possible."

For now, anyone planning to travel through Summit should check the latest traffic alerts, allow extra travel time, and consider alternate routes like Mountain Avenue or the nearby highway. The storm may have washed away the usual flow, but the community’s resilience is, as always, standing firm.