Route 5 reopened in West Springfield

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Police reopened a two mile stretch of Route 5 in West Springfield Friday night.  It had been closed for more than a day while CSX Transportation crews safely lifted a derailed tanker car filled with tens of thousands of gallons of flammable liquid back on the tracks.

It was one of two cars that derailed Thursday night.

The other tanker car was empty.

Crews used a crane and other heavy equipment to lift the tanker and place it into a position so it could be pulled of the trestle which goes right over Route 5.

Once the tankers were removed a long train cas allowed to use the trestle late Friday night.

City officials had taken several precautions, including closing down the road to evacuating about two dozen residents Friday afternoon

It was a costly effort, but Mayor Neffinger told 22News it's not coming out of taxpayers' pockets, “CSX will reimburse the city of West Springfield for the (cost of  the) school, the buses to fire trucks to all kinds of other equipment that was used to keep everyone safe."

When the cars derailed the trestle was damaged, now that the tanker cars are out of the way, they will be able to check the damage.

Now that the tanker cars have been removed, the trestle will be checked for damage.