A chemical spill on James Ruse Drive in Sydney’s west closed lanes in both directions this morning while hazmat crews worked to contain the toxic mess during peak-hour traffic.
Three 20-litre drums of hydrochloric acid fell off the back of a truck travelling through Rosehill at about 7.15 am and began melting the road.
Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewberry told a news channel that specialised chemical recovery crews were called to the spillage between Parramatta Road and Hassle Street and applied a neutralising agent.
“The acid was off-gassing so a significant vapour cloud was in the area,” he said.
“It is also eating parts of the road away.”
An exclusion zone was immediately set up by crews to protect the public and block the acid from spreading further.
The Transport Management Centre said southbound lanes of James Ruse Drive have now reopened through Rosehill, where they had previously been diverted onto the M4 due to the spill.
The westbound off-ramp to James Ruse Drive from the M4 has also reopened.
Northbound lanes between Parramatta Road and Hassall Street have reopened and traffic is now expected to ease in the area.
Transport NSW have urged motorists to consider Silverwater Road as an alternate route, and to allow extra travel time on public transport.
