TRAFFIC UPDATE: I-20 reopens in Cobb County after massive fuel spill cleanup

A crash involving two tractor-trailers resulted in fuel being spilled on westbound I-20.

A crash involving two tractor-trailers resulted in fuel being spilled on westbound I-20.

ATLANTA FORECAST 

Wednesday: High: 92

Wednesday night: Low: 70

Thursday: High: 90

» For a detailed forecast, visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution weather page.

UPDATE [Thursday, 5 a.m.]: All lanes of I-20 West are now open after a massive tanker spill shut down the interstate at Six Flags Parkway for 12 hours. The tractor-trailer was cleared about 4:20 a.m. There are some slight volume delays from I-285 to Fulton Industrial Boulevard, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center.

The eastbound lanes reopened around 2:45 a.m., according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.

UPDATE [10:08 p.m.]: Crews have to cut into the overturned tanker to extract whatever oil is left inside, GDOT spokeswoman Natalie Dale told Channel 2 Action News.

She said to expect another four hours of I-20 eastbound lane closures and five hours of westbound lane closures.

ORIGINAL STORY: A tractor-trailer crash continues to cause nightmares on I-20.

It has been blocking all westbound lanes past Fulton Industrial Boulevard in Fulton County for several hours, according to the Traffic Center. And now, Cobb County police said that all eastbound lanes will also be shut down when authorities try to "offload" the tanker's fuel.

A Cobb County Government tweet said the delays are likely to last “late into the night.”

No fatalities have been reported. Authorities have been diverting westbound traffic onto Fulton Industrial Boulevard, and some vehicles have turning around to go back to the Fulton Industrial Boulevard exit.

An earlier wreck also blocked all I-285 eastbound lanes past I-75 in Cobb County, but those lanes have reopened, the Traffic Center reported.

The transportation issues previously included MARTA’s Blue and Green lines, which were under “extensive” delays due to a disabled train near the King Memorial station, MARTA said in a tweet.

The track has been cleared and reopened, and remaining delays are minor, MARTA said.

This could be the last day of low humidity before moisture makes its return to metro Atlanta.

It’s been a nice few days of dry air and no rain, but Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Karen Minton said that weather pattern is about to change. A front that was holding back tropical moisture south of metro Atlanta is weakening.

“The front that’s been stationary the last couple of days is going to be the firing line for showers and storms today,” Minton said.

There’s a good chance most of North Georgia won’t see any activity Wednesday, but stray showers can’t be ruled out on the Southside, according to the latest forecast.

And while afternoon showers and storms should be isolated Thursday in metro Atlanta, “they could be a little on the strong side in some cases,” Minton said.

After a 30 percent chance of rain Thursday, the action is expected to ramp up by the end of week. The rain chance jumps to 60 percent Friday, when storms could turn severe, according to Channel 2.

Rainfall totals through Saturday morning could reach 2 inches, the news station reported.

Wet weather shouldn’t be a factor for the Braves game Wednesday night against the Miami Marlins, which starts at 7:35 p.m. at SunTrust Park. As usual, traffic in Cobb County may pick up around first pitch.

Temperatures should follow an inverse pattern as rain chances increase. As cloud cover increases, it should be back in the mid-80s by the weekend.

ajc.com

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

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Credit: Channel 2 Action News

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