I-75 Ramp Reopens Nearly 1 Week After Tanker Explosion, Fire

DETROIT (WWJ) - An I-75 ramp that was damaged last weekend when a tanker truck exploded and caught fire has finally reopened.

Although the ramp along northbound I-75 near the I-375 interchange has been temporarily repaired, the Michigan Department of Transportation said quite a bit of work still needs to be done.

"Drivers will see temporary concrete barriers put in place limiting you to one lane, but still you can use the ramp," MDOT spokesperson Diane Cross told WWJ's Lauren Barthold. "We are still going to be working on it behind those concrete barriers, but at least traffic is able now to travel northbound I-75."

truck carrying 9,000 gallons of unleaded fuel crashed and went up in flames, damaging about 100 yards of concrete on the ramp and barrier walls.

"We had to do the concrete repair, the evaluation of the ramp and those side barrier walls, and that is where we're going to still have to be working on the ramp," said Cross. "There's four feet on the inside ramp and six feet on the outside ramp, and that's going to take a little more time to work on those barrier walls."

Michigan State Police say there was a mechanical issue with the truck that apparently caused the back tires to lock and the tanker to overturn. The driver, a 36-year-old Detroit man, was uninjured. He has since been cited for careless driving through the 36th District Court.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing. State police say their Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division will also be conducting a compliance review of the driver's employer.