A stretch of Interstate 25 in Loveland reopened Sunday after a tanker truck crashed and spilled 11,000 gallons of diesel fuel on the highway, prompting an extensive hazmat cleanup.
The interstate was shut down between exit 255 for Colorado 402 (Johnstown) and exit 257 for U.S. 34 (Loveland) for more than 36 hours after the tanker rolled over around 1 a.m. Saturday, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
The interstate was fully reopened at about 3 p.m. Sunday.
Clean up crews, including representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, worked for hours to remove the tanker and clean up the fuel. Some of the fuel leaked through the highway’s pavement, particularly in the northbound lanes, which meant the areas had to be “milled down and repaved,” according to CDOT.
The EPA and others are working to ensure the spill does not contaminate the Big Thompson River.
The vehicle recovery is underway for the semi-tanker on I-25, just north of Highway 402
— CSP Larimer (@CSP_Larimer)
