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Jun 13, 2023

ROYAL OAK (WWJ) - It's a messy Friday morning commute for drivers in Metro Detroit as a major freeway remains closed 12 hours after tanker truck wrecked and caught fire last evening.

In a 6:45 a.m. update, WWJ's Mike Campbell and traffic reporter KT said I-696 east and westbound ramps onto I-75 northbound in the City of Royal Oak is still shut down with no timeframe for when the roadway will reopen.

The closure has been in effect since just after 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 3, when reports of a semi truck crash came in to the Detroit Regional Communication Center.

Michigan State Police troopers were dispatched to the scene on I-75 and Lincoln where they observed a tanker truck that hauling hot asphalt had burst into flames.

The fire was extinguished by the Royal Oak Police Department, but authorities noticed the median wall sustained damage from the blaze. Officials with the Michigan Department of Transportation were notified and authorities shutdown the freeway.

Asphalt tanker that caught fire on I-75 N at I-696 more than 12 hours ago. Workers transferred material to two other tankers, preparing to move burned one off the freeway. (At 6:45 a.m. Fri, I-75 N and ramps from E/W I-696 still closed.) More @WWJ950 and https://t.co/CkYTXL3e7P. pic.twitter.com/CxNEG00RbD

Now, more than 12 hours later, efforts to transfer the disabled truck's load -- as well as clean-up the scene -- remain ongoing.

"Making progress, but it is slow," Campbell reported from the scene. "They have transferred the material from the one tanker to two other tankers and then they used a wrecker to lift up the back of this tanker that caught fire and I guess drip two 5 gallon pails out of the front spigot -- if there is one -- on this tanker, but at any rate, they've got the tanker back on the ground. Now, it's a question of getting it out of here."

Campbell said he was able to get a better look at the truck, which apparently burned so hot that the outer part appeared completely "cooked."

A worker atop a truck tanker shows with arms-apart either how much asphalt material has been pumped or still needs to be transferred to other tanks after one caught fire on the ramp from I-696 to I-75 N which remains closed 12 hrs later. More @WWJ950 and https://t.co/CkYTXL3e7P. pic.twitter.com/o78mSodXti

"It melted the aluminum," Campbell explained. "Not sure if the inner skin gave way or not. Maybe it held since they were able to contain, it appears, much of the asphalt material inside."

The freeway still remains closed for drivers heading out for their morning commute. WWJ traffic reporter KT said to avoid traffic troubles, drivers heading north on I-75 can exit at 9 Mile Road and take a slight west to John R north to 11 Mile Road and then back on to the freeway.

“Westbound I-696, take Dequindre north to 11 [Mile] back on. Eastbound Woodward or Campbell Hilton, take that north to 11 [Mile] and back on to I-75 northbound," KT advised.

As of 7 a.m., authorities have not said when drivers can expect the freeway to open.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned to WWJ LIVE for the latest.

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