Bridge reconstruction stopped in Mpls. due to gasoline leak

(AP) - Construction on the new Interstate 35W bridge was temporarily stopped Wednesday after hundreds of gallons of gasoline leaked from an overturned tractor-trailer and flowed toward the construction site.

The truck rolled over Wednesday morning as it tried to navigate the ramp from westbound Interstate 94 at Hennepin Avenue to westbound Interstate 394, the State Patrol said.

From there, the gasoline flowed through the sewers to the site of the Aug. 1 bridge collapse that took 13 lives. Construction on the new bridge was stopped.

"The afternoon shift was suspended due to the accumulation of gasoline vapors in the area," said Kent Barnard, a spokesman with the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The evening shift was given the OK to resume work at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, he said.

Authorities said containment booms were placed at the sewer outlet to recover the fuel and prevent it from reaching the Mississippi River. The Fire Department was nearby monitoring the gasoline fumes to make sure they stayed at safe concentrations.

Portions of Interstates 94 and 394 and Highway 100 in Minneapolis were closed Wednesday afternoon but later reopened.

The 8,000-gallon tanker is owned by Mielke Oil Company of Little Falls. The driver was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

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