The Latest on the chemical gas leak that shut down the Delaware Memorial Bridge (all times local):

8:35 p.m.

A fire company official working the chemical leak that forced the Delaware Memorial Bridge to shut down says if the flume “would have had an ignition source it could have been catastrophic.”

Holloway Terrace Fire Company Public Information Officer George Greenley says the leaked chemical is ethylene oxide, a highly flammable gas that is a finished product stemming from methanol.

Greenley says fire officials are waiting for pressure to dissipate in the pipes at the chemical facility in Delaware, called Croda Atlas Point, before reopening the bridge. He said the chemical is dissipating fairly quickly from the pipes and estimates the bridge could reopen in the next few hours.

He says the cloud of chemical gas was “of such magnitude that it easily could have” reached the bridge.

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7:50 p.m.

A gas leak has shut down the Delaware Memorial Bridge in both directions.

The Delaware River and Bay Authority tweeted that the leak stems from a chemical facility near the twin suspension bridges that are a major connector between Washington, D.C., and New York City.

Delaware Department of Transportation says the facility is on the Delaware side. The state Division of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is on scene.

The authority tweeted it’s awaiting a response from the plant on how long the bridge should be closed. The leak occurred around 5 p.m. Sunday and plant operators requested the closure.

Traffic is being diverted away from Interstate 295 to another crossing.

The closing comes on one of the busiest travel days of the year. The authority tweeted that traffic is a “parking lot” on both sides.

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6:30 p.m.

A gas leak has shut down the Delaware Memorial Bridge in both directions.

The Delaware River and Bay Authority tweeted that the leak stems from a chemical production facility near the twin suspension bridges that are a major connector between Washington, D.C., and New York City.

The authority’s twitter account says it’s awaiting a response from chemical plant operators on how long the bridge should be closed. The leak occurred around 5 p.m. Sunday and plant operators requested the closure.

Traffic is being diverted away from Interstate 295 to another crossing north of the bridge.

The closing comes on one of the busiest travel days of the year. The authority tweeted that traffic is a “parking lot” on both sides of the bridge.

Source: The Associated Press