A petroleum spill on U.S. 36 in Rocky Mountain National Park has shut down a section of the highway.

The spill happened Monday night, during an ongoing construction project, along a 3-mile stretch from just west of Bear Lake Road to east of Deer Ridge Junction, according to a news release.

The stretch of road, as part of the construction project, is closed nightly from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday through Friday. The section was closed Monday morning and it is “unknown” when it will reopen.

Park visitors attempting to access Trail Ridge Road should use the Fall River Entrance on U.S. 34, according to the release.

The contractor, Granite Construction, on the project notified park officials about the spill and hazmat cleanup began early Monday morning.  Contaminated soil will be removed in accordance with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Environmental Protection Agency procedures.

No one was injured in the incident. The cause of the spill is under investigation.

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