Repairs For Disintegrating Road Backing Up Richmond Bridge Traffic

RICHMOND (CBS SF) - An earlier diesel fuel spill on Interstate Highway 580 just west of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge on the Marin County side has prompted emergency road repairs this morning, according to a Caltrans spokesman.

Caltrans crews closed the westbound lanes of Highway 580 just west of Main Street around 9:30 a.m., Caltrans spokesman Bob Haus said.

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Haus said a privately owned truck spilled diesel fuel sometime in late April or May and a combination of recent warm weather caused the asphalt to degrade.

"We cleaned it up as quickly as we could," Haus said of the spill. "Kerosene with additives, or diesel fuel, acts as a solvent."

Traffic is detouring onto the shoulder while road crews dig up the damaged asphalt and lay down new asphalt, Haus said.

As of 12:38 p.m. traffic was backed up into Richmond with repairs expected to be completed by 4 p.m.

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