Minor Diesel Fuel Spill Closes Traffic on Elm Street Between Willow and Cedar

[somerville311.livejournal.com]

Message sent to affected area at 10:30 a.m. via Connect CTY:

Hello, this is Tom Champion from the City of Somerville with important information about a diesel fuel spill that has affected traffic in the Elm Street area near the Porter Square shopping plaza.

 At approximately 8:00 a.m., a milk truck suffered a damaged fuel tank and loss of diesel fuel while making deliveries to a loading dock at Porter Square in Cambridge.

While the spill poses no health threat to the public, enough fuel escaped onto Elm Street in Somerville to be picked up and spread by passing cars, thereby creating slick and hazardous driving conditions along Elm Street between Cedar St. and Willow Ave.

An environmental cleanup services contractor is on the scene and estimates that the road will remain closed and detours in place until approximately 6 p.m.

In addition to shutting down traffic in both directions along Elm Street between Cedar and Willow, Somerville Police have restricted travel on Burnside Ave and Banks, Hancock and Cherry Streets, to abutters only, with access available from Summer Street only.

We apologize for the inconvenience caused by this incident.  For additional information, please call 311.  Thank you for your patience while the cleanup is in progress.

Comments

[ron_newman]

Thanks for posting this. I didn't get the robo-call, but maybe Day Street is far enough away not to be notified.

Is the street still open for pedestrians?

Update: Elm St. to Reopen by approx. 2 p.m.

[somerville311.livejournal.com]

Clean Harbors, on scene, reports likely re-opening of Elm Street by mid-afternoon.

[upsidown.livejournal.com]

How does one sign up to be on this Connect CTY?

Also: The 87 Bus route is affected by this. Buses aren't picking up between Beech and Lowell. They're being diverted onto Beech, then onto Mass Ave, then onto Somerville Ave.

I live near the section of street closed down and as of 1:25 pm they are still not letting cars through (pedestrians (and bikes, too) I think are ok).

On a more whiny note, it's too bad there isn't a cop directing traffic here or to turn off the traffic light. Cars are really confused about the delay. And they are very honky about it.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

They weren't directing pedestrians very effectively, either. They had barriers up to prevent cars going down the street, but no people there by the cop car with flashing lights to say, "Hey, you should cross the street here, and not continue on the sidewalk on this side, because even though the sidewalk -looks- clear and unobstructed, once you get two blocks further on, there'll be a cranky guy who will tell you not to cross here because it's slippery, and force you to backtrack."

*grump*

[readsalot.livejournal.com]

You sign up for Connect CTY announcements by calling 311, or by going to the city website at http://www.somervillema.gov/ (http://www.somervillema.gov/) and clicking on the appropriate link.

I didn't get this anouncement either, and it's the sort of thing I'd like to know about, because I might have reason to drive toward Porter Square today.

I just called 311, and the person I talked to said that she'd see if there's a way to get me on the notify list for everything. (I don't mind getting phone calls--if I don't want to hear the phone, I just turn the ringer off.)