The Trans-Canada Highway through Chemainus was closed for several hours in the afternoon of Friday, October 10 after a transport truck crashed and spilled fuel, snarling traffic at the start of the Thanksgiving long weekend.
The single-vehicle incident happened just before 3 p.m. near Henry Road, when an empty transport truck lost control and struck the concrete median barriers, according to North Cowichan Fire Chief Ron French.
“The truck slid into the middle barricades, which split open his fuel tanks,” French said. “Crews tried to contain the spill the best they could. Mainroad Contracting was called in to clean up the spill as they are responsible for provincial highways.”
Photos from the scene showed several concrete barriers displaced by the impact.
Both directions of the highway were initially shut down, with northbound traffic detoured down Fuller Road and southbound vehicles directed onto Henry Road. Northbound lanes reopened around 8 p.m., and the highway fully reopened shortly after 9:30 p.m.
The closure came amid existing bridge maintenance on Chemainus Road between Chemainus and Ladysmith, leaving few alternate routes and adding to the congestion. Traffic was backed up for several kilometres in both directions.
No injuries were reported.
