A major Avalon thoroughfare will be closed to traffic for at least a week to repair major damage below the road surface caused by an accident last fall.

Elizabeth Avenue and its intersection with Jackman Avenue sustained substantial damage when the driver of a tractor-trailer truck attempted to turn from Elizabeth onto Jackman, hitting a fire hydrant and getting hung up. The most extensive damage occurred when the water lines beneath the truck were broken, and thousands of gallons of water gushed beneath the road surface for hours until the truck could be lifted off and the water stopped.

The driver reported that she had been following faulty GPS directions when she attempted to turn the big rig onto the side street. The cost of the repairs will be borne by the trucker's insurance company.

Avalon engineer Rob Arnold said that the contractor wants to begin work by mid-April. Borough manager Harry Dilmore said that asphalt plants will not open until April 1.

Dilmore said that it would have taken three weeks to repair the street if the contractor attempted to maintain some vehicular traffic. That time will be reduced to one week if Elizabeth is closed to all traffic from Jackman Avenue to Ohio River Boulevard. The Jackman intersection also will be completely closed for a period of time.

The project will have to be coordinated with the state, Dilmore said, because the first 75 feet of Elizabeth, beginning at Ohio River Boulevard, is controlled by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The state currently is involved in a project to widen the boulevard (Route 65) in Avalon.

Avalon Council member Dave Dixon cautioned that Elizabeth Avenue provides the primary access for fire equipment to reach Route 65. Dilmore said that the borough and contractor will make provisions for emergency equipment to use the street during the repair project.