Truck full o' fish cleared away; I-94 reopens

By ALEX EBERT, Star Tribune

Last update: July 13, 2009 - 10:58 AM

A semi-trailer truck carrying 45,000 pounds of fish parts that tipped over in the eastbound lanes of Interstate Hwy. 94 at Hwy. 252 early this morning has been removed from the scene and the highway reopened, officials said.

All eastbound lanes of I-94 where it splits off of I-694 were blocked from about 2:19 a.m., when the truck flipped over until 9 a.m., said a spokesman at the Regional Transportation Management Center in Roseville. At one point during rush hour, traffic was backed up at least three miles to Boone Avenue Brooklyn Park.

Minnesota Department of Transportation hauled the fish away and moved the truck, which took out “a significant amount of guard rail” when it tipped over, said Don Zenanko, transportation specialist for the center said.

“I’ve been here about 15 years and I can’t remember fish parts,” Zenanko said. “I’ve seen chicken parts.”