SR 87 tanker rollover scene cleared, SR 264 reopened after washout

To say that ADOT crews were busy Tuesday would be a bit of an understatement.

Heavy overnight and morning rains across the state started the day off with extremely slow commutes throughout the metro areas … but nothing like the messes that would happen later in the day …

First off, an oil tanker overturned on State Route 87 about 30 miles south of Payson, pouring approximately 2,000 gallons of emulsified asphalt across travel lanes in both directions. As you can see in the video above and the slide show below, the ensuing cleanup efforts were, to quote our own PIO, “a big gooey mess.”

North- and southbound lanes were closed at about 11:30 a.m. as 50+ crew members from three agencies — ADOT, DPS and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality — and the private cleanup company hired by the responsible party (the company that owns the tanker and employs the driver) worked to clear the road and prevent the hazardous materials from spreading into nearby Slate Creek.

Southbound lanes were reopened within a few hours, but cleanup of the northbound lanes between the Saguaro Lake exit and SR 188 continued through the night. All lanes were reopened at about 3 a.m.

On a few positive notes, though … the driver sustained only minor injuries, there were no other vehicles involved in the crash and crews were able to stop the liquid before it reached the creek.

(And, as a side note … the “responsible party” is also responsible for paying for the cleanup efforts. But more about that in a future post dedicated to all-things ADOT HAZMAT related.)

View SR 87 oil tanker rollover photos on Flickr

Elsewhere in the state …

Heavy rains further north caused water to flow over a bluff above SR 264 just east of Tuba City in Navajo County washing out the roadway.

ADOT crews reopened the roadway last night and are still working to complete additional  permanent repairs. As you can see in the slideshow below, the damage was pretty extensive.

 … and people think it never rains in Arizona …