Hydraulic fluid spills on Route 32 in Norwich, leading to road closure
Norwich — A leak from a Willimantic Waste truck emptied between 30 and 45 gallons of hydraulic fluid along a three- to four-mile stretch of West Thames Street on Thursday morning and led to a road closure, according to the Norwich Fire Department.
The fire department said in a news release that about 11:35 a.m., a Willimantic Waste truck traveling east on West Thames Street had a mechanical failure, which led to a hydraulic hose burst.
Two engines and the battalion chief responded. The fire department said once Norwich police identified the source and substance, a remediation plan was developed.
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection responded, the Department of Transportation treated the road with sand, and an environmental contractor is cleaning the sanded area.
Just before 7 p.m. Thursday, Battalion Chief Marc Benjamin said the road was still closed but he expected it to be open within an hour or two. He said drivers have been rerouted down Dunham Street or New London Turnpike.
"They've mitigated most of the oil," he said. "They picked up a good portion of the sand, but the road will remain slippery and sandy for a time until it all runs off."
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