6 a.m. Thursday — Wheeling emergency officials report all roads have reopened.
WHEELING, W.Va. — A truck leaving the Industrial Park area of Wheeling with an unsecured load on Wednesday morning has created a hazmat situation and left multiple roads closed through the 4th of July.
Philip Stahl, the Public Information Officer for the Wheeling Police and Fire Department told MetroNews that the truck was carrying a waste motor oil and leaked the substance on around five miles of roadway starting at 8:30 a.m. before being pulled over on Interstate-470.
Several roads are closed according to Stahl including Chapline Street starting at 16th Street, U.S. Route 2 on-ramp from 18th Street, 26th Street collector area southbound that includes the entrance ramp to I-470 westbound, I-470 eastbound off-ramp.
Stahl said that I-470 eastbound is lane restrictive in the area.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Stahl said the roads will likely be closed up to the next 48 hours, through the 4th of July holiday.
“They are mostly a lot of on and off ramp connector areas,” he said. “People are going to have to work their way around those closers, use Interstate-70 if possible and be patient while a company comes and cleans the roadways.”
Stahl said the cleanup company was coming in from out of town and arrived midday on Wednesday.
The driver of the truck is facing two citations for having an unsecured load, one under state code and one under federal code.
Stahl said this should not affect people’s health but it is a mess for drivers.
“It does create slippery conditions on these roadways,” he said. “We are asking people to please be patient. Do not go through the barricades and do not go through the cones.”
A truck leaking hazardous waste oil has created a Hazmat situation starting at Peninsula Street to 16th & Chapline Street to the 26th Street I-470 collector onto I-470 Eastbound. Police & Fire have several roads closed. Roads will be closed throughout the morning & afternoon. pic.twitter.com/KgRuhSYFZM
— Wheeling, WV Fire (@WheelingFD) July 3, 2019