Highway 40 completely reopens following fatal tanker fire
Crews work through the night to replace asphalt, guard rail
Montreal's Highway 40 West reopened this morning just after 6 a.m.
It had been closed for an inspection following Tuesday's rush-hour explosion that left a truck driver dead and six other people hurt.
Transport Minister Jacques Daoust said the necessary repairs were completed overnight, including a new paving of asphalt, and experts confirmed the highway is safe.
'Best possible scenario'
Engineers determined that the integrity of the structure itself wasn't compromised by the fire, Daoust told reporters at the site early this morning.
He said temporary guard rails were also put in place to replace those that had been bent by the intense heat.
New, permanent guard rails will be installed overnight in the days to come without completely closing the highway, Daoust said.
"We're quite happy," he said. "It's the best possible scenario."
Firefighters praised
Mayor Denis Coderre said the city's firefighters deserve praise for putting out the flames within an hour of the explosion.
"It's one of the big reasons that today, following the inspection, we can open the westbound section of the highway," he said.
The eastbound lanes of the highway were opened to traffic on Wednesday morning.
The truck had been carrying 45,000 litres of diesel fuel when it collided with another truck, police said.
A total of four vehicles were involved in the crash.
Read more on the Highway 40 accident and aftermath here: