Sulfuric Acid Leak Cleaned Up On I-25

DENVER (CBS4) - It took almost 12 hours, but a big mess on Interstate 25 was finally cleaned up early Friday morning.

The highway was closed near Washington at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday after a tractor trailer leaked sulfuric acid. About 250 gallons of the chemical spilled onto the highway and into its drainage system.

Hazardous materials crews used a powdery substance called sodium bicarbonate to neutralize the acid. Sulfuric acid is powerful enough to eat through metal.

"This is a very corrosive product, it's 96 percent sulfuric acid, it can eat through metal," Lt. Phil Champagne with Denver Fire said.

The Environmental Protection Agency is investigating what, if any, environmental impact the spill might have had.

The highway was closed until 6 a.m.