Leaking Tanker, Accident Cause Afternoon Traffic Mess On George Washington Bridge
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A series of incidents on both levels of the inbound George Washington Bridge caused a traffic nightmare for hours on Thursday afternoon.
A tanker traveling on the upper level of the span began leaking hazmat material around 3:15 p.m., causing the closure of three lanes. As of 4 p.m., the tanker was removed from the bridge, officials said.
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According to the Port Authority, the tractor-trailer struck a finger joint on the bridge, causing its gas tank to rupture. The fuel then leaked down to the lower level from the roadway above.
The GWB was experiencing 30-minute delays in both directions as of 7:15 p.m. Delays had been as long as two hours earlier in the evening.
The Port Authority was fixing the joint as of 4 p.m., and all lanes on the upper level reopened shortly before 5:30 p.m.
Separately, all three inbound lanes of the lower level were closed due to a three-car accident. The deck had also been closed earlier in the afternoon when the fuel was leaking down from the roadway above.
All lanes of the lower level reopened around 7:15 p.m., officials said.
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