Good News and Bad News on Highway 111 Closure
First the good news: officials on the scene of Monday night's train derailment tell us that residents who can prove they live in North Shore will be allowed to use Highway 111 to get home this afternoon, beginning at 3 p.m..
Now the bad: Full reopening of Highway 111 to all motorists may not occur for some time-possibly until Sunday or Monday-until all the contaminated material is removed from the site. If that sounds puzzling, the reason that the highway is not being reopened to the general public is not the health threat of the hazardous materials, but the intense truck traffic during the contaminated soil removal. The danger is merely too much heavy duty truck traffic on and off the highway near Grant Street.
All of the hydrochloric acid has been removed from the tankers, and almost all spill areas have been capped with soil. Approximately 4,000 cubic yards of this contaminated soil will be removed and then replaced with clean soil.
The phosphoric acid is being transferred to trucks and shipped off site-that work began this morning.
More good news: no injuries or exposures to report as a result of this spectacular derailment. The tracks are now re-opened to train traffic.
The detour signs are clearly posted. If you are not a North Shore resident, you will be diverted onto 66th Avenue in Mecca, eastward to Garfield Street. South on Garfield to 70th Avenue, and then East into North Shore.
We'll keep you posted.