UPDATE: Onramp reopened — Load spill on Highway 401 causes morning commute delays

Update (1:20 p.m. on Friday, Aug, 26, 2022):
After a tractor-trailer lost its load on the eastbound onramp of Highway 401 at Gardiners Road earlier this morning, the incident has been cleared and the onramp has reopened to traffic.

Update (10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 26, 2022):
Kingston Fire and Rescue and the Frontenac County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have now confirmed their response to the incident this morning on Highway 401 involving a tractor trailer with a spilled load along the eastbound lanes of the highway near the Gardiners Road onramp.

“OPP along with Kingston Fire responded to reports of a fire 401 eastbound on-ramp at Gardiners just after 6:30 a.m.,” Acting Sgt. Erin Cranston, Media Relations Officer for the Frontenac OPP said, relaying a much earlier start to the incident than originally reported by witnesses.

Cranston confirmed that the load was “mostly cardboard,” and said that the cause of the fire is undetermined at this time, noting that Kingston Fire and Rescue responded to the scene, as well.

Kingston Fire and Rescue stated their crews attended the scene as of 6:13 a.m., and said that, as of 9 a.m., crews were “still on scene performing overhaul operations and extinguishing hot spots.”

“The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time,” Kingston Fire and Rescue confirmed.

The contents of a tractor-trailer were strewn along the eastbound onramp of Highway 401 at Gardiners Road during this morning’s commute.

Shortly before 8 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 26, 2022, Ontario Provincial Police, Kingston Fire and Rescue and Frontenac Paramedics responded to the scene. Witnesses report the load, which appears to be mainly cardboard, was on fire.

Currently, Highway 401 eastbound at Gardiners Road is experiencing delays, and the eastbound onramp at Gardiners Road is closed.

This is a developing story, more to come.