The Ministry of Transportation says a closure of Highway 401 near Kingston is likely to last most of the night due to damage caused by a tractor trailer fire this morning.
The truck, which was carrying clothes and mattresses, hit a concrete barrier, started leaking fuel and burst into flames, around 3:00 a.m.
The highway remains closed eastbound between Montreal Street and Highway 15 with crews preparing to repave the damaged section of roadway.
A ministry spokesperson says they are hoping to begin the paving work by 6:00 p.m. but the needed equipment is coming from Ottawa and they’ll work as fast and as safely as possible, to get the road open.
Until then, drivers headed east on the 401 are asked to detour north of the City of Kingston, since downtown streets can’t handle the traffic volume and large, heavy trucks.
