ALEXANDRIA, Minn. - Traffic on Interstate 94 just west of here has been reduced to one lane after a tanker truck carrying de-icing material rolled into the ditch about noon Friday because of icy road conditions.
Eastbound I-94 is down to one lane for about a mile near Evansville, which is about 20 miles west of Alexandria.
Crews are working to transfer the de-icing material, which is used by airlines, from the overturned tanker into another vehicle, said Sgt. Jesse Grabow of the Minnesota State Patrol.
“Nothing spilled fortunately, but it’s going to take a special tanker for us to pump it out,” he said.
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Grabow said it could take into the late afternoon or evening before the chemical is transferred and both lanes are re-opened.
The Minnesota State Patrol has responded to at least 100 cars in the ditch today. Melted slush from Thursday and freezing rain overnight turned into an icy coating on I-94 with today’s below-freezing temps, Grabow said.
Icy road conditions ex-end from about Fergus Falls to St. Cloud, he said.
About 4 a.m., there were reports of 20 semis jackknifed along I-94 in that region at the same time, Grabow said.
“We’ve been pretty lucky - nothing serious out of all those incidents,” he said.
