Hazmat Incidents Cause Widespread Highway Closures in Southern U.S.

Several traffic incidents involving hazardous materials have disrupted roadways across the U.S. In Auburn, Washington, all southbound lanes of State Route 167 were closed due to a truck leaking resin, resulting in a five-mile backup, while hazmat crews worked to contain the leak. In Wylie, Texas, southbound Texas 78 was shut down as authorities investigated illegal dumping of a propane tank and a drum, leading to evacuations of nearby businesses. Meanwhile, in Jefferson County, Tennessee, a portion of Interstate 81 was closed while crews responded to a semi-truck carrying solid chemicals that overheated. In Illinois, emergency repairs caused multiple lane closures on Interstate 80, with expected reopening times affected by cold weather conditions. These incidents have prompted authorities to advise drivers to seek alternate routes and expect delays.