ANNAPOLIS, MD – Your commute to Annapolis along Route 50 South might be longer than expected today as an overturned tanker has shut down the westbound lanes in the area of the Severn River Bridge.
Westbound lanes are expected to remain closed for several more hours, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration State Highway Administration.
Local police and fire departments are working to clear the scene after an overturned tanker truck forced the closure of westbound US 50 and two eastbound lanes.
“Crews estimate it may take up to five hours for the roadway to completely reopen,” the agency said moments ago. “Westbound US 50 is closed and detoured using MD 2 (Governor Ritchie Highway) through Arnold. Two right lanes are open on eastbound US 50, with the two left lanes remaining closed. MDOT SHA has notified its traffic signal operators to retime mainline traffic signals on the affected routes.”
According to a statement released this morning, crews are attempting to upright the tanker, tow it to another location and, offload the diesel tanks, then burn off the contents, 10,000 pounds of propane, of the truck.
“This will likely take several hours. If crews are unable to complete this operation at another location, they will undertake this process at the scene,” the agency reported.
The crash was first reported by the Anne Arundel Fire Department at around 7 am.
