Gandy Bridge reopens after overturned fuel tanker, leak closure

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said the eastbound Gandy Bridge has reopened to traffic after several hours of it being closed because of a fuel leak from an overturned semi.

Tampa Fire Rescue said the fuel truck carrying 8,000 gallons of aviation fuel overturned at the intersection of Westshore Boulevard and Gandy shortly before noon.

Gandy, as of 9:15 p.m, is still shut down between Manhattan Avenue and the bridge.

Gandy was shut down for several hours from Pinellas County in both directions along with the connector between the bridge and the Selmon Expressway. The Selmon Expressway reopened shortly after 6 p.m. and Gandy Bridge shortly after 7 p.m.

According to Tampa Fire Rescue, “personnel began mitigating the spill by creating a dam from soil in the median to keep the fuel from entering the sewer system and waterways. We also conducted foam operations by spraying a blanket of foam over the fuel to avoid any sparks or the possibility of ignition.”

Tampa Fire Rescue said the tanker leak stopped at 4 p.m., and 1,200 gallons of fuel were recovered.