ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - A tractor trailer fire closed Route 220 northbound Wednesday afternoon in Roanoke.
Crews wearing HAZMAT-style suits were cleaning up after the fire Wednesday evening.
[gallery size="medium" ids="139835,139834,139638"]
The fire happened near the Home Depot, which is between the Tanglewood and Clearbrook areas. Witnesses tell WSLS 10 the vehicle was blocking half the lane. VDOT's traffic website shows both northbound lanes of 220 were closed and backups were more than 7 miles.
VDOT tweeted the road may not reopen until 11 p.m. Wednesday.
AFTERNOON COMMUTE TRAFFIC ALERT: RT 220 at Southern Hills Dr, Roanoke, NB lanes still closed. Heavy congestion. Estimated re-open is 11 pm.
— VDOT Salem (@VaDOTSalem) December 2, 2015
The following was posted on VDOT's 511Virginia.org website:
US-220N at Roanoke
On US-220 in the County of Roanoke, in the vicinity of Southern Hills Dr; Rt. 862E/W (Roanoke County), motorists can expect major delays due to a vehicle fire. The north left lane and right lane are closed. Traffic backups are approximately 1.0 mile.
Traffic is being diverted onto the Home Depot parking lot, onto Southern Lane and back onto US-220 North.
Last updated: Wed 12/02/2015 7:42 PM EST
*Video courtesy of Alli Eakin.