Marblehead Causeway Reopens After High Tide Storm Surge Closure

Updated 3 p.m.

MARBLEHEAD, MA — The Marblehead Causeway was closed Friday morning as storm surge battered the coastline at high tide amid the fierce winter storm.

Marblehead police said the Causeway would remain closed "until it is safe to cross."

Atlantic Avenue was closed at the Swampscott line, while Front Street was closed near Selman Street.

The MBTA was running on its "snow route" until Front Street reopened.

Marblehead police remind residents not to approach any downed power lines.

"If you see wires down on the ground assume they are live and never touch them," police said.

Crews spent early Friday afternoon cleaning up the road before it reopened at about 2 p.m.

"This was a significant tidal surge event that left quite a bit of debris on the causeway," police said.

The storm brought gusts of wind of 55 to 60 miles per hour and up to two inches of rain to the state late Thursday night into Friday morning. A sharp temperature drop forecast for Friday afternoon and evening could bring icy conditions.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)