Both lanes of Interstate 95 and exits reopened before 4 p.m. today following a tractor-trailer-pickup truck accident involving potentially explosive cargo.
Earlier, both northbound and southbound I-95 were closed. A perimeter was established on I-95. Back-ups were possible on northbound I-95, due to road repairs tied to he accident.
Traffic was diverted to alternate routes and signal adjustments were made, the Delaware Department of Transportation reported.
Based on TV footage, the injury accident involved a tractor trailer and a commercial pickup truck pulling a work trailer. Route 141 is now open after being closed for a time.
New Castle County Paramedics remained on the scene throughout the day.
Hazardous material teams from throughout Delaware worked in hot weather conditions to deal with the incident. Multiple agencies were on the scene.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control earlier reported the lifting of a shelter-in-place directive that spanned a light populated half-mile radius around the crash scene.
Agencies had to deal with a trailer load of organic peroxide, a hazardous material.
DNREC’s Emergency Response and Prevention section burned off the peroxide shortly after 1 p.m.
Christiana Fire Co. reported the hazardous cargo was actually being carried in the pickup truck’s trailer.
The unified incident command determined the safer option was to burn the cargo rather than attempting to move it. No lingering air quality impacts are expected.
The closing clogged traffic in western New Castle County during the morning commute as motorists sought alternate routes.
Traffic was diverted to a number of secondary routes, with the temporary closing of Route 141 further complicating matters.
For up to date information regarding traffic, click on the link below.
http://www.deldot.gov/Traffic/travel_advisory/index.shtml#advisories.