All westbound lanes of Interstate 94 at Century Avenue reopened around 11:30 a.m. Monday, five hours after a semitrailer truck caught fire and forced a brief closure of the freeway.
The semi burst into flames around 6:25 a.m. and blocked all four westbound lanes for about 25 minutes during Monday's morning rush. The State Patrol and the Minnesota Department of Transportation were able to get one lane open by 7 a.m. and a second about 7:30 a.m.
Flames leapt from the truck which came to rest on the right shoulder of the westbound lanes after the truck's brakes caught fire and "got out of control," a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Transportation said.
The incident brought traffic to a standstill as far back as County Road 19 in Woodbury, about four miles, until thing began to loosen up around 8:30 a.m.
The truck sustained severe damage, but the driver was unhurt and was able to call 911, MnDOT said.
