I-79 South to be closed 24-48 hours to repair damage from acid spill near Morgantown

Sep. 19—CHARLESTON — West Virginia transportation officials say an acid spill on Interstate 79 South near the Goshen Road Exit between Fairmont and Morgantown has forced work crews to close all lanes to traffic.

The road closure is needed to give workers time to repair the damage caused by the acid spill.

Around 1 p.m. on Sept. 18, a tractor-trailer that was hauling a strong acid overturned in a work zone near the Goshen Road Exit. No one was injured in the accident, but a large amount of acid was spilled on the roadway.

I-79 remained closed at the crash site overnight while hazardous material crews cleaned up the acid. However, West Virginia Division of Highways District 4 Manager Earl Gaskins said the acid severely damaged the road.

Gaskins said work crews will have to dig up and repave about 500 feet of asphalt. Work is expected to take 24 to 48 hours.

Traffic is being detoured off I-79 at the Goshen Road Exit and back on to the interstate in the vicinity.