By: Saeed Akhtar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
All westbound lanes of Highway 401 in Tilbury have reopened following a significant fuel spill earlier this week, after emergency crews worked for over 12 hours to clean up the incident.
The spill occurred around 3 a.m. on Sunday, March 30, when a fuel tanker truck overturned on the highway near Exit 56 (Essex County Road 42). The crash resulted in an estimated 20,000 litres of fuel spilling onto the westbound lanes and into a nearby ditch, forcing the closure of Highway 401 between Exit 56 and Exit 48 (Highway 77, Comber Side Road).
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and emergency services responded promptly to the scene, and a significant cleanup effort was launched. According to OPP Sgt. Ed Sanchuk, no injuries were reported, and the driver of the tanker was unharmed.
“The bad news is that thousands of litres of fuel spilled onto the roadways and into a nearby ditch,” Sanchuk said in a social media post. “This posed a major challenge for our teams, who worked around the clock to ensure public safety and reopen the highway as quickly as possible.”
Crews worked throughout the day, coordinating with the Ministry of the Environment and specialized cleanup teams to contain the spill and prevent further contamination.
The highway closure, initially expected to last eight to 10 hours, extended into the evening as cleanup operations continued. As a precaution, emergency responders closed both westbound lanes of the highway, diverting traffic onto nearby roads. Local drivers were urged to plan alternate routes during the closure.
“It was critical for us to get the spill cleaned up as safely and efficiently as possible,” said a representative from the Ministry of the Environment. “Our teams have been on the ground since the spill was reported, working with OPP and other agencies to minimize the impact.”
By Sunday evening, after more than 12 hours of intensive work, the cleanup was completed, and the westbound lanes were reopened to traffic, allowing the flow of vehicles to return to normal.
By March 31, all lanes of Highway 401 were fully open, and no further delays were expected. The OPP confirmed that the investigation into the cause of the rollover is ongoing, though no details have been released at this time.
The fuel spill serves as a reminder of the potential risks associated with transporting hazardous materials, and authorities are urging drivers to remain vigilant while traveling on major highways. The OPP also cautioned motorists to stay updated on any further developments through official channels.
Motorists affected by the closure were encouraged to follow traffic updates from the OPP’s social media accounts and local news outlets. No additional road closures were reported after the reopening of the westbound lanes.
While the investigation continues, authorities have assured the public that the highway is safe and that the incident did not result in lasting environmental harm.
Motorists are advised to monitor local traffic updates and follow any further instructions provided by the OPP or other emergency services in the event of future incidents.
