Ramp remains closed, cleanup continues after tanker fire

PENNSAUKEN, N.J. (WPVI) -- The northbound off ramp from Route 90 to Route 130 in Pennsauken, New Jersey is still closed today after a massive tanker fire on Monday.

The ramp is expected to remain closed for several days as the cleanup effort continues.

Tuesday afternoon crews continued to clean up the debris left behind by the tanker fire.

The overturned fuel truck was engulfed in flames, the guardrail was mangled, and the truck and asphalt scorched.

Officials say spilled fuel contaminated the ground around the accident, but was contained.

A sewage drain near the road empties into the Delaware River. Remediation is underway.

Delaware River Port Authority CEO John Hanson explains, "The trucking company that was involved has retained an environmental remediation firm who's removing soil and dealing with the soil remediation and developing a site remediation plan associated with that."

Hanson continues, "The guardrail is going to have to be replaced. We're going to bring in jersey barriers and take it down to one lane."

The Delaware River Port Authority says three things need to happen before that ramp can reopen: Lighting needs replaced; a guardrail repaired; and the scorched and fuel soaked asphalt needs scraped off to create traction.

That will likely take several days.

Some residents who live in the immediate area evacuated their homes as a precaution. County officials say others were told to shelter in place.

Residents tell Action News that the smell of burnt fuel has since gone away.

A Camden County spokesperson tells Action News air tests have since shown areas remain within normal limits, which has eased concerns.

Greg Wicker of Pennsauken says, "I'm not smelling anything out of ordinary. I think the wind took a lot of it out of here...there were 20 mile an hour wind yesterday."

The name of the driver has not yet been released. He was treated and released at Cooper University Hospital yesterday.

Investigators have yet to interview him, and no charges have been filed.

The driver works for TK Transport in Pennsauken. Attempts to get comment from the company have been unsuccessful.