Pothole on Route 17 in Vestal Damages Vehicles, Ties Up Traffic

At least three vehicles sustained damage from a crater-like pothole that opened up near a bridge on Route 17 in Vestal.

The trouble developed around the start of Monday's late-afternoon commute in an eastbound lane of the expressway.

Vestal police received calls from three drivers who reported their vehicles were disabled after striking the massive hole.

The problem spot was on the west end of the Route 17 bridge over Vestal Road.

Police said tires blew out on a couple of the vehicles. One car sustained undercarriage damage that caused an oil leak. The woman driving that vehicle left the highway at Exit 68.

An absorbent material was spread on the spilled oil on Pearl Street near the end of the exit ramp.

Drivers told police that vehicles were swerving suddenly as drivers spotted the giant pothole and tried to avoid it.

The state Department of Transportation dispatched crews to assess the problem caused by a missing chunk of concrete.

Eastbound traffic on the highway was backed up for more than an hour after the first report of a damaged vehicle.

In an emailed statement, a DOT spokesperson said a lane of Route 17 was closed for about 90 minutes "to repair loose concrete on the bridge."

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.