November 12, 2019
By Paragon News Director Paul Joseph –
Another off ramp has been closed in Elk City at Main Street where the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) is rebuilding the bridge over I-40. However, this time, it’s not due to the construction of the new Double Diamond Interchange that’s going in there. It’s due to a diesel spill from a recent semi accident.
The ramp that’s closed is the westbound ramp at exit 38, the ramp at Elk City’s Main Street exit.
ODOT Division 5 Engineer Brent Almquist says the spill was mostly diesel fuel for the fueling of the truck. It wasn’t a spill from a tanker, only fuel in the fuel tanks for the diesel motor.
A special, environmental company specializing in fuel spills spent most of the day of the accident cleaning up the mess. Two people were inside the semi at the time of the accident on a week ago Tuesday, 72-year-old Peggy Blount of Alabama, the driver, and 67-year-old Kathy Bookins from Georgia who both suffered from non-life threatening injuries.
Few people know the damaging effect that gasoline or diesel has on asphalt.
Almquist says the ramp that was damaged is part of the new construction for the interchange and the damaged part must be completely repaired.
Though it’s a small part of the overall interchange, the ramp will take several more days.
As for the overall construction of the Double Diamond Interchange, the first in Oklahoma, Almquist says construction crews remain on schedule.
ODOT, Division 5, based in Clinton, covers 11 counties in Western Oklahoma including 104 miles of Interstate 40.
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