EL CAJON, Calif. — Nearly two months after a gasoline tanker overturned on Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon, residents are still grappling with the aftermath of the incident. The October 9 spill, which released 8,800 gallons of gasoline into the soil and storm drain, has led to prolonged road closures and cleanup efforts.
"Since we had the gasoline tanker spill 9000 gallons of gas, it's just been horrible," said one local resident.
The cleanup process has been slow, with gasoline-soaked soil being removed one container at a time. Fletcher Parkway remains partially closed, with crews lining up dozens of containers waiting to be filled. The extensive work has also included replacing storm drain pipes, sections of sidewalk, and a traffic signal.
Another resident expressed frustration over the lack of updates: "It's a little frustrating because I haven't seen any updates about it, so I just kind of drive by and wonder what's going on with the status of it getting fixed?"
The ongoing cleanup has significantly impacted local traffic patterns. "They're detouring our traffic, and we have to take a detour, and then I end up a block from my house, and sometimes the light doesn't even work up there, so I can't get across Fletcher Parkway," a neighbor explained.
The City of El Cajon emailed CBS 8 the following statement:
"City of El Cajon staff continues to monitor the unprecedented environmental cleanup efforts taking place at the intersection of Fletcher Parkway and Navajo Road. Last month, a tanker tipped at the intersection, releasing 8,800 gallons of gasoline into the City’s storm water system and soils at the intersection. Since that time, the Federal EPA has been actively monitoring and directing cleanup up efforts by the trucking company’s contractor. This cleanup effort has required the removal of City sidewalks, storm water pipes, a portion of the street, and the traffic signal at the intersection. The cleanup efforts has impacted traffic at the intersection. As the contractor removes soil, the soil is placed in bins which is then trucked offsite for safe disposal. This work has required a large volume of truck traffic and onsite staging of bins on Navajo Road, necessitating the full closure of Eastbound Navajo Road during construction hours. While the City has not received a timeline for the full restoration of the intersection, it is anticipated to continue through the holidays."
Residents are not only dealing with traffic inconveniences but also environmental concerns. "Well, it sure is dusty and dirty. Besides them having Fletcher Parkway closed off for 12 to 14 weeks, as well as the dirt that's coming up to my house," one woman noted.
The City of El Cajon has not provided an estimate for when the project will be completed. Fletcher Parkway remains closed with detours in place as cleanup efforts continue.