Highway 40 completely reopens following fatal tanker fire

Montreal's Highway 40 West reopened this morning just after 6 a.m.

It had been closed for an inspection following Tuesday's rush-hour explosion that left a truck driver dead and six other people hurt.

Transport Minister JacquesDaoustsaidthe necessary repairs were completed overnight, including a new paving of asphalt,andexperts confirmed the highway is safe.

'Best possible scenario'

Engineers determined thatthe integrity of the structure itself wasn't compromised by the fire,Daousttold reporters at the site early this morning.

He said temporaryguard rails were also put in place to replace those that had been bent by the intense heat.

New, permanent guard railswill be installed overnight in the days to comewithout completely closing the highway, Daoustsaid.

"We're quite happy," he said."It's the best possible scenario."

Firefighters praised

Mayor Denis Coderre said the city's firefighters deserve praise for putting out the flameswithin an hour of the explosion.

"It's one of the big reasons that today, following the inspection, we can open the westbound section of the highway," he said.

The eastbound lanes of the highway were opened to trafficon Wednesday morning.

The truck had been carrying 45,000 litres of diesel fuel when it collided with another truck, police said.

A total of four vehicles were involved in the crash.

Read more onthe Highway 40 accident and aftermath here:

• 'He did everything he could': Hero tries to rescue truck driver from Highway 40 inferno
• What happened?Scroll through the most dramatic photos and video
• VIDEO |Dramatic collision on Metropolitan kills 1, closes scene for inspection