TAMPA, Fla. — The westbound lanes of Gandy Boulevard have reopened Thursday after they were closed to westbound traffic at Westshore Boulevard due to a gas tanker that overturned on Tuesday, officials announced.
What You Need To Know
- Tampa police reopen westbound lanes of Gandy Boulevard
- Gas tanker overturned Tuesday on Westshore Boulevard at Gandy
- Damage caused from a resulting fuel spill had to be repaired, FDOT says
- SEE ALSO: Spectrum Bay News 9 Real Time Traffic Map
At around 5:10 a.m., the Tampa police announced that all lanes of westbound West Gandy Boulevard are reopened, about 40 hours after the road was closed when a gas tanker overturned at around 1:23 p.m. Tuesday.
During Tuesday evening, some of the lanes reopened, but on Wednesday morning, the Tampa Police Department sent out a press release stating that the westbound lanes of Gandy Boulevard had been closed and warned it could be like that for a few days.
The asphalt absorbed the aviation fuel that spilled from the tanker, and it weakened and deteriorated the roadway, Florida Department of Transportation officials said.
FDOT had said Wednesday it would mill and resurface Gandy Boulevard from West Shore Boulevard to Bridge Street.
The tanker overturned at a Circle K, which the convenience store was asked to evacuate while corner businesses were asked to shelter in place.
The container had about 8,000 gallons of fuel, and about 1,200 were recovered. The truck was carrying aviation fuel, and environmental services crews were at the scene cleaning up.
The tanker was righted and towed away.
A police spokeswoman called the cleanup a "very complex cleanup process.".
The closure affected traffic to Tuesday night's Tampa Bay Lightning game, as Gandy Boulevard was not an option for fans.
The Tampa Police Department, in a message to media outlets, stated on Tuesday:
"Please be advised that TPD is advising all motorists to avoid the South Tampa area. There is an overturned fuel tanker at Westshore Blvd. and Gandy Blvd. As a result, the Gandy Bridge is shut down from Pinellas County in both directions along with the connector between the bridge and the Selmon Expressway. The Selmon Expressway is closed from the connector to downtown. The only open portion of the Selmon Expressway is between Downtown and Brandon. These closures are expected to remain in place for several hours."
Alternate routes are the Howard Frankland Bridge and the Courtney Campbell.