Hobart’s Southern Outlet has become the centre of attention for police and emergency services this morning as they respond to a series of incidents.
Two separate crashes are causing delays on sections of the Outlet, with one vehicle bringing down a light pole near McDonalds Kingston, while another car has crashed at the Mount Nelson interchange.
Authorities are also cleaning up a major oil spill that stretches from the Southern Outlet, through the city on Macquarie Street and out to Derwent Park Road.
Multiple crashes after major 40km+ Hobart oil spill
A major oil spill that stretches for over 40km along some of Hobart’s busiest roads has led to several crashes this morning.
Police are asking anyone who does not need to be on the road to ‘reconsider their need to travel’, with oil stretching from the Southern Outlet to the Midland Highway.
Starting on the Outlet about 2km before Mt Nelson (city bound), the spill continues to Macquarie Street, along the Brooker Highway to the Risdon Road area, through to Derwent Park Road, out to the Midland Highway, Pontville and to Mangalore.
Some lanes have been closed as emergency services respond to the spill.
One motorist told Pulse that despite going ‘very slow’, she lost control of her vehicle at the Bridgewater bridge roundabout and crashed into the guard rail.
“Luckily a man in a truck pulled up behind me to check on me,” she said.
“He said the same thing happened to him about 30 minutes earlier and he blocked off the road a bit so I [could] take off safely.”
No serious injuries have been reported from any of the crashes at this stage.
