WASHINGTON — The Delaware Memorial Bridge is reopen after several hours of being shut down Sunday evening due to a nearby chemical leak.
Drivers returning to the Washington, D.C. area from the Northeast faced a challenge when the Delaware Memorial Bridge, which crosses the Delaware River near Philadelphia and New Jersey, was shut down.
The Delaware Department of Transportation and the Delaware Memorial Bridge Twitter accounts began alerting travelers to the closures in both directions just after 5 p.m. on Sunday evening.
The shutdown was in response to reports of a gas leak at a nearby chemical plant, according to a number of Delaware-based news organizations.
WDEL posted a story saying that the Croda plant in New Castle, Delaware began leaking a toxic, flammable chemical called ethylene oxide. The plant asked local authorities to close the bridge while the leak was contained.
Both Spans of @demembridge closed due to chemical gas leak at a plant near the base of the #NJSpan. Traffic diverted to other crossings north. jes @DelawareDOT @DRPA_PAandNJ @NJDOT_info @NJTurnpike
— Del Memorial Bridge (@demembridge) November 25, 2018
