Michigan State Police are asking drivers to seek new routes after a large tanker truck fire caused damage to I-75.
The tanker fire happened around 1:15 p.m. on Monday in the northbound lanes of I-75 near Big Beaver Road in Troy, Michigan.
The truck driver was alert and was reportedly able to get into an ambulance following the fire.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze around 3:20 p.m.
Troy – PD/FD are on scene of a tanker truck on fire at I-75 between Livernois and Big Beaver Road (16 Mile). Expect delays & avoid the area.
📸: Kelsey S.
📸: Andrew D. pic.twitter.com/2bw4EGEUzo
— Macomb County Scanner (@Macomb_Scanner) July 12, 2021
Officials have not given word on what caused the truck to catch fire, but the incident did take place in a construction zone. Local outlet ClickOnDetroit reports that there were hundreds of yards worth of scrape marks against a dividing wall that may have been caused by the fuel tanker truck.
Michigan State Police have closed both directions of I-75, southbound at Square Lake Road and northbound at Rochester Road, with a detour at Woodward Avenue.
“It would be best if you avoided that area completely and find a north/south roadway a bit farther away. I-75 could be closed for quite awhile as it may have buckled from the heat of the fire,” MSP Metro Detroit said in a Tweet.
The Michigan Department of Transportation says I-75 could remain closed for a few days.
You can follow MDOT-Metro Detroit on Twitter to keep up with the latest road closure information.
This is a developing story.