TOLLAND — All lanes of I-84 have reopened 26 hours after a tractor-trailer hauling hazardous materials crashed.
Both sides of I-84 in Tolland were closed to traffic and nearby homes were evacuated when the truck rolled over at about 7 p.m. Sunday. The westbound lanes reopened earlier on Monday, but all eastbound lanes were reopened of 9:30 p.m. Monday
Fans heading to the UConn Women's Basketball game Monday night were advised to use I-384 and Route 44 to get to campus.
Environmental officials say the vehicle was carrying a mixed load of chemicals, including acids, peroxides and ammonia solutions.
The cleanup was complicated because the truck rolled down a steep 30-foot embankment and because of the weather.
The driver was cited for driving too fast for the icy and slushy road conditions.
DEEP said the truck was carrying 900 containers of various chemicals, including flammable liquids, acids, peroxides, and alcohol. Some of the containers that were broken contained acid and some of the containers went through the roof of the truck. Hazmat teams responded around 10:30 p.m. Sunday night.
The tractor-trailer is owned by CIMA Transportation. It was traveling from Texas to Hubbard-Hall, Inc. in Massachusetts.
DEEP Emergency Response personnel remained on the scene of the accident Monday morning to oversee "off-loading" of the "mixed load" of materials from the overturned tractor-trailer. The process will proceed slowly because several containers holding various chemicals, acids, and flammable liquids were damaged when the truck tipped over.
DEEP said it was conducting tests of the snowy ground surface as well as air monitoring to determine if any of the chemicals or liquids in the truck were released from their containers during the crash. An environmental contractor is being brought in to assist in the overall effort.
The Environmental Protection Agency was asked to assist and monitor the area.