Main route to shut for repairs after diesel spill

A main route in Southampton is set to close overnight for further work to repair a two-mile stretch of carriageway after a diesel spill from a lorry.

The HGV's fuel tank ruptured, leaking about 580 litres on the road, as it travelled along the A335 Thomas Lewis Way and Empress Way after 05:30 BST on Thursday.

The road was closed both ways while the fuel was cleared before reopening in the early hours of Friday. Another full closure is expected overnight from 20:00 until 06:00 on Saturday for resurfacing works.

Southampton City Council said the spill left a "vast area to assess" ahead of the most severely impacted parts of the carriageway being resurfaced.

Apologising for the disruption, the city council said: "We do have small spills like this from time to time, however the scale of this spillage is unprecedented.

"Thank you for your understanding as we deal with this evolving situation."

The authority added that, due to the risk of diesel contaminating the soil or water, the Environment Agency had been called in to assess the spill.

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