UPDATED: Traffic lights that have gone dark due to power outages should be treated as a four way stop sign, according to New Brunswick police.

According to the department's latest Nixle advisory, several outages have been reported in the city so far, and drivers in New Brunswick should proceed with caution.

"The New Brunswick Police Department advises that the City is under a State of Emergency and traffic should be limited to essential personnel only. If you do not have a need to be on the road, stay inside," the advisory said.

The New Brunswick Police Department has advised that in the event of flooding, Route 18 will be closed at the Route 1 overpass and River Road in Piscataway.

Alternate routes for residents of Tov Manor, Dewey Heights, The Gardens at Raritan and the surrounding neighborhoods can take Route 1 South through the Sears parking lot and onto Phelps Avenue, continuing onto Route 18 South to Paulus Boulevard.

Those neighborhoods will also be accessible by taking Route 1 South to Livingston Avenue, according to police.

For further traffic information during Hurricane Sandy, visit the police department's Nixle account at https://local.nixle.com/new-brunswick-police-department.