The Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday it expects to complete an asphalt cleanup in the Cache la Poudre River in time for holiday recreation this weekend.
Crews are removing strands of asphalt from the river along Colorado 14 northwest of Fort Collins.
On Aug. 25, a truck rolled over and spilled 5,000 gallons of hot asphalt into the river.
Previous tests showed no detectable levels of benzene or other dangerous aromatic hydrocarbons.
Work is scheduled to be finished Thursday.
A 4-mile stretch of the river has been off-limits for fishing, rafting and canoeing since the spill.
The Poudre 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 for another week, according to the EPA.
Joey Bunch, The Denver Post
