New Bedford Police Department advises of road closures in downtown New Bedford

The New Bedford Police Department advises that William Street between Pleasant Street and Acushnet Avenue, as well as Purchase Street between Union Street and William Street, are closed to traffic Thursday and will remain closed through Thursday afternoon until further notice.

At approximately 9:57 a.m., New Bedford Fire, Police, and EMS were dispatched to the New Bedford campus of Bristol Community College, located at 800 Purchase Street, due to a report of an odor of an unidentified source. City and state officials, working with Bristol Community College staff, continue to investigate the site, which was evacuated this morning out of an abundance of caution.

The Police Department advises motorists to avoid the two blocks of William Street between Pleasant Street and Acushnet Avenue, and the block of Purchase Street between Union Street and William Street, for the remainder of Thursday afternoon until further notice.