NEWBURYPORT -- Emergency officials have reopened the soutbound lanes of
Interstate 95 and two lanes on the northbound side of I-95 north after
spending the entire day cleaning up a massive fuel spill.
However,
the reopening had yet to alleviate traffic problems around Newburyport.
As of 5 p.m., Route 1 north was at a standstill from Low Street in
Newburyport to Salisbury Square.
At 9:17 a.m., a tanker loaded
with 10,000 gallons of gasoline rolled over in an attempt to avoid an
oncoming car on Interstate 95. An estimated 8,000 gallons of fuel were
spilled, effecting the nearby neighborhood as well as the Merrimack
River.
The accident forced officials to close the entire highway
in both directions for hours, backing up traffic heading north on I-95
an estimated nine miles into New Hampshire.
The accident
occurred about a quarter mile north of the Route 113 exit in
Newburyport in the northbound lanes, but due to a related rollover on
the south side and precautions due to the fuel spill, traffic was
severely affected in both directions.
The tanker has been
uprighted and moved off the road, but a number of emergency vehicles
still have to close the scene. According to the state executive office
of transportation, about 20 feet of roadway on the northbound lanes was
damaged by the accident and will need to be repaired, forcing two lanes
to remain blocked off into this evening.
The Coast Guard and
environmental officials continue to deal with gasoline that reached
storm drains that feed into the Merrimack River. Boat traffic on the
Merrimack near the Whittier Bridge is being routed around the spill.
State
Police said there were nine people injured in the accident, which
involved three cars and the tanker. Police believe the accident may
have been caused by two SUVs traveling south. When the two cars
collided, one rolled over while the other veered into the northbound
lanes, causing the tanker to lock its brakes and fall on its side,
spilling the fuel.
Local News
July 6, 2009
Update: I-95 North reopened, but traffic woes persist
- Local News
-
-
Where cats and dogs will reign
Cape Ann Animal Aid is hosting an open house Sunday at is new shelter in Gloucester.
Continued ... -
Wellspring honors women
Wellspring House of Gloucester held its 14th Annual Women Honoring Women Luncheon earlier this month with over 670 in attendance.
Continued ...
This year's honorees were long-time Wellspring volunteer Betsy Brown of Manchester, The Open Door's Executive Director Julie LaFontaine of Essex, and Barbara Lynch, one of Boston's and the country's leading chefs and restaurateurs. Lynch also was the keynote speaker. -
City drops Maplewood price tag to $100K
With a lower price tag and slightly looser requirements, the Maplewood School building will head back out for bids for the sixth time since the city put it on the block eight years ago.
Continued ...
The schoolhouse picked up one bid the last time the city put it out. - Repair to close main route between Manchester, Essex
- Gloucester Police/Fire: Scooter goes missing, a scooter found
- Gloucester District Court: Teen, 19, must attend anger management classes
- Fisherman faces fines and jail for lying to judge
- Talk of the Times: Local parents, Ferrante, hailed for school support
- Essex Police/Fire: Boat breaks loose at marina
- Manchester Police/Fire: Year-old cat reported missing
- Rockport Police/Fire: No one injured in crash at mall
- Where cats and dogs shall reign
- Where cats and dogs will reign
- Twitter posters back on GHS teams
- Tierney targets NOAA criminalization tactics
-
Where cats and dogs will reign
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
