The Delaware Memorial Bridge opened late Sunday night in both directions after being closed for more than five hours, due to a chemical leak at a nearby plant.
The incident was reported at the Croda Atlas Point plant near the foot of the bridge on the Delaware side. The plant uses a chemical that can be dangerous when released. TV footage showed water being shot into an area of the plant. Area fire companies and DNREC were at the scene.
The Croda plant went into operation in 2017. The first of its type in the United States, the new plant is capable of producing 100 percent renewable non-ionic surfactants, which are active emulsifying agents used in a wide range of consumer products.
The plant uses renewable feedstocks rather than petrochemicals.
@demembridge https://t.co/PGGnxUfJpd
— MRF (@mychief113) November 26, 2018
No evacuation orders were issued around the plant. However, reports indicated that residents living near the leak were urged to remain in their homes.
The closing came on one of the busiest nights of the year as travelers headed home from Thanksgiving.
The Delaware Department of Transporation took some criticism on social media for not immediately posting the closing on its signboards. DelDOT stated that notices of the closing were posted at 6 p.m. on Sunday night, near the time of the closing.
At the same time, the Delaware Memorial Bridge’s Twitter feed was praised by motorists for “going live” and providing regular updates and allowing some motorists to make detours.
Motorists reported being stranded for hours due to the closing and being unable to turn around.
Traffic was reportedly moving later in the evening as motorists are rerouted to exits that lead to alternate routes that include the Commodore Barry bridge near Chester PA, as well as I-95 and I-495.
