US 29 Reopens South of Columbia After Chemical Spill

UPDATE (2:25 p.m.)—All southbound lanes have reopened on US 29, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration.

(Previous report)—Drivers taking US 29 headed south of Columbia Thursday afternoon may want to take Interstate 95 instead.

All lanes of US 29 south were closed prior to MD 198 due to off-road activity involving a single vehicle, according to the Coordinated Highways Action Response Team.

Hydrochloric acid had spilled from a barrel, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer, who said Montgomery crews were assisting the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services in responding to what he characterized as a “small spill.”

Travelers were being detoured onto Old Columbia Road, WTOP reported.

Drivers should consider I-95 as an alternate route, WNEW advised.

Piringer first reported crews were working to contain a spill on the the bridge over the Rocky Gorge Reservoir by the Patuxent River at 11:43 a.m. He said the incident involved ink.