Cleanup work following a large gasoline spill on the eastbound lane of Route 1 near Hampton is still underway — almost six months after a tanker crashed and released fuel on April 8.
Scope and current status
Provincial officials say an estimated 36,000 litres of gasoline spilled from the tanker. The single-vehicle crash forced a full closure of the affected section in April; while one lane has since reopened, the eastbound lane where the spill occurred remains closed.
Seaboard Liquid Carriers Ltd., the company identified as responsible for the release, retained Pario Engineering and Environmental Sciences to manage assessment and remedial work. The Department of Environment and Local Government said Pario is continuing on-site mitigation and monitoring efforts.
"Mitigation measures have been implemented to contain the fuel in the downward slope from the highway with contaminated water, soil and trees being removed where necessary," the department said in an email.
What remediation involves
Officials outlined several specific remediation actions already taken or underway:
- Removal of contaminated soils, water and some trees along the highway slope where required.
- Installation of monitoring wells to track groundwater and subsurface conditions.
- Placement of a soil vapour extraction system on the highway embankment slope to address volatile petroleum contamination.
- Regular sampling of soils, surface water and groundwater to monitor petroleum concentrations.
Jennifer MacNeill, a spokesperson for the Department of Environment and Local Government, said the current phase of work could take another four to six weeks to complete. She added that an expected reopening of the highway does not mean full remediation is finished.
Timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Tanker crash and spill | April 8 |
| Partial lane reopening | Spring (one lane) |
| Estimated completion of current work | Late October–early November (department estimate) |
Community and travel impacts
The prolonged closure of the eastbound lane has had practical consequences for motorists and local communities that rely on Route 1 for regional travel. While the department anticipates the highway will be usable again in late October or early November, it cautioned that this does not mean the site will be fully remediated after that period.
Removal of trees earlier in the spring was carried out to allow remediation access and to enable equipment placement. Officials say monitoring wells and ongoing sampling are essential to confirm levels of petroleum contamination and to guide any further action.
Who is conducting the work
Pario Engineering and Environmental Sciences is the contractor overseeing assessment and remedial operations at the scene. The work is being performed on behalf of Seaboard Liquid Carriers Ltd., which the department named as responsible for the spill.
What residents should know
- The eastbound lane where the spill occurred remains closed; drivers should plan for potential delays or detours near Hampton.
- Sampling and monitoring will continue beyond the reopening of the highway to ensure environmental risks are addressed.
- Officials have not provided an exact date for full remediation; timelines depend on monitoring results and remediation effectiveness.
Department and contractor updates will be important for residents and travellers in the coming weeks as the province moves toward reopening the affected lane and continuing environmental monitoring.
Local officials and environmental authorities say public safety and protection of land and water resources remain priorities as remediation work proceeds.
