A major Center City street was closed today after utility crews possibly set off an underground transformer.
Spruce Street was closed to pedestrian and vehicle traffic between 17th and 19 Streets around noon. The section of Spruce Street is just south of posh Rittenhouse Square.
Police were diverted traffic around the area as PECO crews worked to fix the problem.
Philadelphia Police Captain Joe Sullivan tweeted about what led to the closure:
@PhillyPolice #9th Dist PFD rerouting traffic 17th/19th Walnut/Spruce PECO work triggered underground transformers to pop. @DirectorPhilaEM — Joe Sullivan (@PPDJoeSullivan) January 17, 2014
There were reports of explosion-like sounds but Philadelphia firefighters couldn't confirm anything.
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As SkyForce10 hovered overhead, you could see a missing manhole cover surrounded by police tape and more police tape blocking off connecting roads.
There were no reports of injuries and no reports of power outages in the area.
