Troy Tanker Fire: I-75 Repairs Estimated At $1.5M, MDOT Says

TROY, MI — Repairs to a damaged stretch of pavement on I-75 at Big Beaver Road in Troy are estimated to cost $1.5 million after a fuel tanker fire Monday that has closed most lanes of the freeway.

Michigan Department of Transportation officials said Friday it may take six weeks to complete the repairs to the freeway pavement and median barrier wall, both of which were significantly damaged during the fire.

The pavement and barrier will be rebuilt, and all costs associated with the incident response, cleanup and repair will be submitted to the carrier's insurance company for reimbursement, officials said.

See More: Why I-75 In Troy May Be Closed For A While (Photos)

All lanes of the freeway were closed at Big Beaver Monday afternoon after the tanker caught fire, sending thick, black smoke and flames into the sky. Authorities warned then that the roadway may be closed for an extended period of time because the road "may have buckled from the heat of the fire."

Officials with the Troy Police Department initially reported Monday that the tanker caught fire along northbound I-75 at the Big Beaver curve. When fire crews arrived at the scene, they said they found the truck was on fire. Firefighters said they assisted in getting the driver away from the truck before he was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

No other injuries were reported as a result of the fire, authorities said.

Read More: I-75 Closed Through Tuesday Morning In Troy After Tanker Fire

I-75 traffic currently is maintained in the right lane of each direction to allow traffic to move on the freeway while crews rebuild the damaged left lanes, along with the concrete median wall that separates both directions of traffic.

Once that work is finished, crews will move to rebuild the right lanes. To minimize expected delays, crews will keep closed the entrance ramps at 14 Mile and Rochester roads to northbound I-75, and the entrance ramps at Crooks Road/Corporate Drive and Big Beaver Road entrance ramps to southbound I-75, MDOT said.