RIVERDALE, NJ (AP) -- The northbound lanes of Interstate 287 in Riverdale remained closed late Wednesday morning as authorities worked to clean up chemicals spilled after a tanker truck overturned.
Traffic was crawling for miles and being diverted to nearby Route 23.
Authorities estimate a few hundred gallons of methyl mathecrylate, a highly flammable substance used in the manufacturing of acrylic paints, spilled from the tanker after the early morning accident.
Authorities plan to pump the chemical to another vehicle. State police Sgt. Stephen Jones said hazardous material teams were monitoring air in the area and weren't detecting a threat to the public.
Three police officers were decontaminated and released from a hospital. Three Transportation Department workers were taken to the hospital because they said they didn't feel well.
The highway could be reopened by 2 p.m., Jones said.
Riverdale officials implemented a reverse 9-1-1 system to notify citizens of the situation, but are not calling for evacuations.
