If you commute on Route 1 near Hampton, you face continued delays. An eastbound lane remains closed nearly six months after a tanker truck crashed and spilled an estimated 36,000 litres of gasoline on April 8.

According to a recent report from CBC News, you will wait another four to six weeks for the cleanup to finish. The Department of Environment and Local Government states the highway will reopen in late October or early November.

Extensive Cleanup Operations Continue

Seaboard Liquid Carriers Ltd. holds responsibility for the gasoline release. The company hired Pario Engineering and Environmental Sciences to handle the assessment and remediation work.

Department spokesperson Jennifer MacNeil confirmed that reopening the highway does not mean the site is fully remediated. Crews implemented mitigation measures to contain the fuel on the downward slope from the highway. Workers removed contaminated water, soil, and trees from the area.

Pario installed monitoring wells at the site and is currently setting up a soil vapour extraction system on the highway embankment slope.

Environmental Monitoring Shows Safe Water Levels

Environmental teams conduct regular sampling of soils, surface water, and groundwater to track petroleum concentrations. Pario also monitors Whalen Brook, a tributary of the Hammond River.

“To date, petroleum concentrations in surface water have been below the applicable regulatory criteria,” MacNeil stated.

Police Investigation Remains Open

The New Brunswick RCMP continues to investigate the circumstances of the crash. The Hampton and Southeast Crime Reduction Unit leads the inquiry.

Cpl. Hans Ouellette stated that police are investigating if a crime or a contravention to the Motor Vehicle Act caused the incident. Police have laid no charges at this time.

Gateway Operations, the company managing Route 1, declined to provide additional information regarding the crash or potential legal action.

Recent Fuel Spills in New Brunswick

The Hampton incident adds to a growing list of high profile spills across the province. In March, a truck spilled a carcinogenic compound along 14 kilometres of highway near Fredericton. Additionally, officials charged Irving Oil and Grant Enterprises Ltd. following a 200,000 litre fuel spill at a Woodstock gas station detected late last year.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the eastbound lane on Route 1 near Hampton reopen?
The Department of Environment and Local Government states the lane will reopen in late October or early November.

Who is responsible for the fuel spill?
Officials named Seaboard Liquid Carriers Ltd. as the company responsible for the release of the gasoline.

Is your local drinking water safe?
Yes. Regular sampling shows that petroleum concentrations in surface water, including nearby Whalen Brook, remain below applicable regulatory criteria.

Have police charged anyone for the crash?
No. The RCMP investigation remains ongoing, and police have laid no charges at this time.