Friday's commute near Raleigh-Durham International Airport got a whole lot messier when a septic truck overturned on the entrance ramp from Interstate 540 onto eastbound Interstate 40, spilling its load across the pavement and shutting the ramp down. Traffic through the busy airport corridor quickly bogged down, though Durham police told responders the driver was not hurt.
According to WRAL, crews arriving at the scene found the truck's tank contents spilled along the ramp, and Exit 1B is expected to stay closed for the foreseeable future while cleanup and any needed hazard mitigation continue. Photos in the station's report show the truck on its side with emergency responders working the scene, and the outlet noted that those crews were handling both cleanup and traffic control.
Where It Happened
The crash took place at the I-40 and I-540 interchange just outside the RDU airport, straddling the Durham and Wake county line. The I-540 loop feeds directly into I-40 at this junction, making the ramps a go-to route for airport travelers and daily commuters, according to Wikipedia. With that much traffic funneled through one interchange, a single ramp closure can ripple across the entire corridor in a hurry.
Spill Response And Environmental Rules
Septic waste is untreated wastewater, and if it reaches storm drains or nearby streams it can pose health and environmental risks. The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality runs a 24-hour emergency line for reporting spills and lays out when incidents must be reported and who is responsible for cleaning up hazardous discharges, according to the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality. In situations like this, county health officials and state environmental teams typically work together at the scene to contain the waste and limit contamination.
What Drivers Should Expect
Drivers should plan on Exit 1B, the on-ramp from I-540 to eastbound I-40, staying closed while crews continue their work. Authorities have not given a timeline for reopening the ramp, and motorists headed to or from RDU are being urged to keep an eye on local traffic reports and Durham Police updates, according to WRAL. Expect heavier congestion on nearby connectors and consider alternate airport routes until the green light comes for that ramp to reopen.
