A single tractor-trailer collision on Highway 417 near Nicholas caused commuter chaos, Thursday morning.
Police say a transport truck slammed into a contruction barrier, blocking all lanes, while traveling eastbound just before 5:30 a.m.
'Unfortunately he was cut off by a vehicle and caused the tractor trailer to jack-knife," says Const. Rheal Levac of the Ontario Provincial Police.
The impact with the barrier caused about 50 litres of fuel to spill from the truck's saddle tanks.
The driver was not injured.
As crews were busy cleaning up the spill and a damaged hydro pole, eastbound traffic on the highway was temporarily shut-down before re-opening one lane for most of the morning.
This caused traffic to back up past the Parkdale exit.
"It's unbelievable. I can't even imagine. You don't know what it's like working in this city," says one driver.
Eastbound traffic on the highway was completely reopened at around 2:30 p.m.
The City of Ottawa says that any further repairs needed will be completed later in the evening.
With a report from CTV's John Hua.
