BUCYRUS — For the second time in less than one year, crews had to clean up a sludge spill on Ohio 98 north of Kiess Road.
According to Crawford County Sheriff’s Deputy Tyler Carey, Ohio 98 was blocked off by emergency crews at 10:02 a.m. Tuesday after it was discovered the roadway was covered in sludge, a byproduct of lime used in agricultural fields.
The individual at fault was subcontracted by a company hired to remove the lime from behind the Bucyrus Water Treatment Plant.
Ohio Department of Transportation Transportation Manager Mike Stansbery said the incident happened just a few miles from the location of the spill in the summer of 2018. He did confirm it was a different company than the company at fault in 2018.
He said the sludge was worst at the location north of Kiess Road, but could be found intermittently north to Tiro.
Cleaning crews will be clearing the roadway to Tiro but the roadway will not be closed while clean up takes place.
Stansbery said ODOT will charge the trucking subcontractor for manpower costs for the cleanup. He said he believed Liberty Township Fire Department will most likely do the same.
Cleanup efforts included using ODOT snow plows scraping the roadway clear, Liberty firefighters spraying off the roadway and ODOT salting the pavement to keep it from freezing.
Stansbery said there is one way to keep the event from happening a third time.
“Make sure your tailgate is closed before you hit the road,” he said.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol also responded to the scene.