Port Authority Fire Closes Several Blocks During Evening Rush

MIDTOWN, NY — A manhole fire closed multiple blocks of Eighth Avenue near the Port Authority in Midtown on Wednesday evening, according to the fire department. The fire was reported near 610 Eighth Avenue, an FDNY spokeswoman told Patch.

She said the scene was still active around 7:30 p.m. No injures had been reported, she said.

8th Avenue was completely closed to pedestrian and car traffic between 39th and 41st streets. The avenue was closed to car traffic starting at 34th Street. The city issued an alert warning of traffic delays in the area.

Eighth Avenue was closed to all traffic between 39th Street and 41st Street.

Some frustrated pedestrians walked through the lobby of the nearby New York Times building to get to Port Authority when they were blocked from crossing 8th Avenue at 40th Street.

A Con Edison spokesman told Patch that the energy company had crews on the way to the area.

This is a developing story. Please refresh this page for updates.

Lead image via Liana Messina/Patch; secondary images via Ciara McCarthy/Patch.