DENVER -- All northbound lanes of Interstate 25 are back open near the Denver Tech Center following a 16-hour closure caused by a fuel tanker that crashed into the median near Belleview early Wednesday afternoon.
?After working all night, CDOT has finished repairs and ALL LANES NB & SB I-25 from Dry Creek to Belleview are now OPEN! ?
— CDOT (@ColoradoDOT) June 1, 2017
The news came minutes after CDOT officials held an overnight press briefing telling media they expected to have all roads back open before the early Thursday morning rush hour commute.
"We are on track, I believe, to open the roads by 5 a.m.," said Amy Ford, CDOT's director of communications during an early morning press conference over the phone.
Ford said CDOT crews worked tirelessly overnight to pave, mill and strip down the roadway in order to make it accessible to drivers as they headed to work.
But Ford warned that additional repairs would still need to be done in the coming days on the barrier and the asphalt that suffered some damage after a fuel tanker heading northbound on the highway near Belleview crashed into the median, sending a fireball and a billowing plume of black smoke that could be seen for miles.
The damage to the asphalt sustained in the northbound lanes following the fiery crash went about four inches deep at the shoulder and about three inches deep to lanes 1, 2 and 3. Lane 4 had some spot replacement that needed some work, Ford said.
CDOT officials said in a press release Wednesday night that a maximum of three inches of asphalt was damaged in the left two lanes and on the shoulder on the southbound lanes.
"We've now replaced about 100 feet of asphalt along the entire corridor," said Ford, adding that the additional repair work will be done to the barrier and the asphalt during regular overnight hours.
CDOT reported just after midnight that all southbound lanes had reopened to traffic.
NB I-25 remains closed;SB I-25 lanes R now open
— CDOT (@ColoradoDOT) June 1, 2017
With I-25 back open, tolls are back in effect on E470. The highway had previously waived tolls due to the closure.
How bad is traffic going to get Thursday morning?
Prospects for bad traffic along I-25 near the Denver Tech Center do not appear as bad as initially thought, given the highway has since reopened.
But CDOT officials warn that rubbernecking could create some traffic congestion during the early Thursday morning rush hour commute.
Are there delays on I-25 right now?
There are currently no delays on I-25, but if you're still worried about the commute, you should check out the embeddable Google map below to get up-to-the-minute traffic conditions in order to plan your commute as you head out the door.
Click on "view larger map" and in the left-hand side menu bars, click on "Traffic" to get current traffic conditions.
We also encourage you to check out the CDOT website for up-to-the-minute traffic conditions and traffic alerts.
What's next following the fuel tanker crash on I-25?
CDOT officials will now work to see how much the estimated damage to the roads will cost. During the early Thursday press conference, Ford said the department would be getting those numbers within the next few days.
Ford also said that Greenwood Village police are still investigating the crash. No cause has been determined as of yet.
No information regarding the condition of the driver injured in the fiery crash was provided early Thursday morning.
Stay with Denver7 throughout the day to get updates on developing information relating this story.
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