Lanes Reopen After Fuel Spill Closes I-15 Northbound

Freeway Diesel Spill
Photo: Arturo Soria / Gephardt Daily

SALT LAKE, UTAH – August 27, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) – A fuel spill caused the closure of I-15 northbound near 7200 South Thursday around 11 a.m.

Several northbound lanes have now reopened, though one right lane is still closed at 7200 South and is expected to open around 3:30 p.m, according to the Utah Department of Transportation.

According to Lt. Jeff Niebuhr, Utah Highway Patrol, a motorist travelling northbound on I-15 near 7200 South lost a mattress on the freeway. Shortly after, a semi struck that mattress and the springs or wood on the mattress punctured a hole in the semi’s gas tank.

“So far there have been about 50-60 gallons of gas spilled and it is currently still leaking,” said Niebuhr. “We have had to shut down all of I-15 northbound at 7200.”

Traffic is jammed so they are asking for others to avoid the area, however according to Niebuhr the traffic thankfully is able to divert fairly easily onto the I-215 interchange.

Hazmat crews as well as the Utah State Health Department are on scene. The Utah Department of Transportation is bringing street sweepers to clear up the sawdust that was used to consume the gas.

Niebuhr says it is Utah statute that requires you to strap down your loads and it is likely the driver of the vehicle that lost the mattress will be cited.

1 COMMENT

  1. The diversion of traffic was NOT easy. Traffic coming on at 90th South just exacerbated the problem. It took me over an hour to get from 110th when I saw the notification, to get off at 72nd.

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