UPDATE AT 9:45 p.m.: NOW OPEN! As of 9:40 p.m. tonight, February 4, 2014, all lanes of eastbound I-70 east of MacVicar Avenue NOW OPEN to all traffic. The diesel fuel spill (approximately 180 gallons) cleanup has been completed and the damaged semi truck and KDOT snowplow have been removed from the roadway. The traffic incident has been cleared and the highway reopened to unrestricted traffic.
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BELOW WAS THE EARLIER STORY FROM THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION:
All lanes of eastbound I-70 east of MacVicar Avenue in the Topeka area CLOSED to traffic due to a diesel fuel spill (approximately 180 gallons) that resulted from semi striking a KDOT snowplow earlier this evening near downtown Topeka.
Eastbound I-70 through traffic must turnaround at MacVicar Avenue and take westbound I-70 to southbound I-470 to the Kansas Turnpike South Topeka entrance to access eastbound I-70 on the east side of Topeka. Local traffic will need to utilize local city streets via MacVicar Avenue or Gage Boulevard for their travels. Drivers must use alternate routes and avoid the area.
Neither driver was injured but the eastbound lanes of the highway were expected to be closed for several hours in order to allow for cleanup. Due to the continuing Winter Storm people are urged to stay off the highways and roads for their own safety and the safety of personnel working to clear the roads.
