Fairview Lane in Portsmouth collapses

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (WLNE)- Part of Fairview Lane in Portsmouth collapsed following the rainstorm on Thursday morning.

ABC6 crews at the scene said that the road collapsed from Friends Street all the way to Oliver Hazard Perry Road.

Neighbors said that the collapse happened just before 7 a.m. Some are now completely trapped.

Neighbors say the storm drain could not handle the water pressure and completely erupted.

“People have lived here twenty to thirty years, and they’ve never seen this before,” said resident Donna Viverious.

The road collapsed near several driveways, making it impossible for residents to get out of their homes.

Portsmouth police have established an exit for residents of the neighborhood that need to leave.

National Grid and the Rhode Island Department of Public Works got to the scene almost immediately after it happened, working together to fix the road.

Crews are filling the holes in the road temporarily, they will be fixed completely in the long term, according to police.

Crews are currently tearing up the collapsed side of the street.

Neighbors said they’ve only seen things like this happen during the winter.

This is a developing story, more information will be added as it becomes available.