Traffic on Interstate 90 was disrupted Monday afternoon after several cows escaped and wandered onto the roadway near Exit 56, prompting lane closures and efforts by officials and motorists to corral the animals.
The incident began shortly after 2:10 p.m. when the New York State Police were called to the Blasdell/Exit 56 area on reports of livestock in the road, according to a spokesperson from the state police.
State and local responders, along with bystanders, attempted to gather the cows, which were seen running loose in the median and along the shoulders of the busy Thruway. Video and camera footage showed at least two animals moving around on the roadway as people worked to contain them.
Officials temporarily closed two lanes of I-90 near Ridge Road and Route 179 in the Town of Hamburg as crews and volunteers worked to guide the cows off the highway, according to traffic reports.
Traffic in both eastbound and westbound directions slowed to a crawl, with backups reported between Exit 54 and Exit 56. Motorists were urged to use caution and consider alternate routes while responders worked to secure the animals.
By around 3:30 p.m., the New York State Thruway Authority said the cows had been confined and all emergency units cleared the scene, though travel delays persisted throughout the day.
According to a Syracuse.com report, the cows escaped from a disabled livestock trailer that was pulled over along the shoulder of the highway.
