UPDATED: Germantown Avenue Reopen After Fallen Tree Blocks Road

Fire officials and a SEPTA employee were closely studying the roots of a fallen tree on Germantown Avenue Monday afternoon. The tree fell shortly before 2:30 p.m., and blocked both lanes of Germantown Avenue at the intersection of Winston Road.

"Luckily no one was under there when it happened," a firefighter said as he studied the downed tree.

The tree came up from the roots from the sidewalk a few yards away from .

Wires along Germantown were being pulled with the tree. Police, fire, SEPTA and PECO officials were all on the scene to work on restoring the area.

Traffic was backed up on either side of Germantown Avenue, with cars being redirected on Cresheim Valley Drive and Mermaid Lane.

UPDATE: 8:30 p.m. After six hours of crews working to clear a fallen tree, , Germantown Avenue is open again in both directions. For the final 45 minutes, a fire engine was brought in to hose debris from the fallen tree off the road.

A large portion of the tree trunk remains on the side of the road near Germantown Avenue and Cresheim Valley Drive.