THE M11 is now open in both directions after lorry overturned and chemical flooded across both carriageways yesterday evening.
No other vehicle was involved in the accident between junctions 7 and 8 of the M11 that was closed from around 5.10pm to 10am this morning while the spill was cleared.
Highways Agency Traffic officers, Essex Police, Essex Fire Service and the Environment Agency, worked throughout the night and into this morning and the south-bound carriageway re-opened at 10am, with the north-bound carriageway opening at 5.50am.
A 25 metre section of the southbound carriageway and the gulleys of the northbound carriageway were covered with a chemical foam after a lorry overturned at around 5pm on Thursday evening. The foam started to solidify on contact with the carriageway and also penetrated the surface.
A 150 metre exclusion zone was put in place until it could be established that the foam was not releasing toxic fumes.
The chemicals were identified as melamine formaldehyde resin and phosphoric acid, and of a low risk, the HGV was cleared and the road was reopened.
Fire crews from Harlow, Stansted, Epping and Grays attended the scene at around 5.10pm yesterday and left at 11pm.
Caner Okanay, Highways Agency operations manager, said: "We would like to thank drivers for their patience last night and this morning while we cleared the carriageway of a significant chemical spill on the M11.
"The nature of the chemical involved meant that we had to ensure none of it reached the water course. This meant we had to jet wash the carriageway surface and then use gulley suckers to ensure all of the liquid was removed and safely disposed of away from the scene."
The Environment Agency were also at the scene until 1am this morning carrying out assessments on environmental impact and drains alongside the carriageway were covered to ensure the chemical did not reach the water courses.
