The Environmental Protection Agency expects to complete an asphalt cleanup in Poudre Canyon in time for holiday-weekend recreation on the river, the agency said today.
Crews are removing strands of asphalt from the river along Colorado 14 west of Fort Collins. A truck rolled and spilled 5,000 gallons of hot asphalt into the Poudre River on Aug. 25.
Previous tests showed no detectable levels of benzene or other dangerous aromatic hydrocarbons.
Work is set to be finished Thursday, the EPA said today.
A 4-mile stretch of the river has been off limits for fishing, rafting and canoeing since the spill.
The river provides drinking water to Fort Collins and other municipalities in the region.
Agricultural users voluntarily shut off irrigation and storage from the river. They are expected to be without water another week, according to the EPA.
