Rick Gunn/Nevada Appeal Firefighters help with traffic during the cleanup of an oil spill at north end of Roop Street near College Parkway, which was closed Tuesday afternoon between Roop Street and Goni Road.
A construction truck leaking hydraulic fluid closed a portion of College Parkway on Tuesday afternoon as construction crews building the new Wal-Mart Supercenter sopped up the slick substance.
Troy Hammond, Nevada Department of Transportation supervisor, said an end-dump truck hauling dirt lost its hydraulic line without knowing it, and inadvertently dragged the fluid up Hot Springs Road from Roop Street, onto College Parkway and then the length of Research Way before realizing there was a problem.
Traffic was closed at 3 p.m. from Roop Street to Goni Road as A&K construction crews laid dirt on the roadway then scooped it up for disposal.
Hammond said the mess was compounded by commuters who were following the damaged truck and dragging the fluid farther.
Although the majority of the spill was contained to the eastbound lanes, Hammond said, traffic in both directions was closed to allow the crews easier access for the cleanup.
"Unfortunately, it was an inconvenience, but we closed the road for safety's sake," he said. "We didn't want anyone to crash on this stuff."
Hammond said he didn't think the truck belonged to A&K, but was subcontracted by the company.
"They did a good job cleaning it up," he said.
The Carson City Environmental Health Department will be responsible for discarding the contaminated soil at the Lockwood Regional Landfill.
The spill will have no effect on the environment.
Traffic was allowed through shortly after 5 p.m.
n Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.