Tuesday's rollover snarled traffic in much of Sarnia's east end as cars and tractor trailers were rerouted to city streets. (SUN MEDIA)

SARNIA - Sarnia's mayor is demanding Ontario fix a dangerous stretch of road following a fuel tanker rollover at one of the city's busiest highway intersections Tuesday.

The Harmac Transportation transport spilled 15,000 litres of gasoline sludge in a grassy ditch when it left the Highway 40 off-ramp around 5 a.m. Tuesday.

The driver, a 48-year-old Sombra man, suffered minor injuries and was transported to Bluewater Health. He was later transferred to London hospital where he's listed in stable condition.

Lambton OPP say charges are pending.

The incident is another example of why Ontario needs to upgrade Highway 40, which links Highway 402 with the Chemical Valley and international markets.

"They really are playing with fire on this one, literally," Bradley said. "The question here is, what's the hold up?"

Within hours, Bradley had requested a meeting with Transportation Minister Jim Bradley. City council, the chamber of commerce and local labour council have for years collectively pushed for improvements to the highway, which has seen numerous accidents involving volatile cargo and several fatalities.

The ministry has announced various upgrade plans, including a commitment to add four overpasses in the early 1990s.

"There is much more traffic out there, and yet the road hasn't changed in 25 years," Bradley said.

Tuesday's rollover snarled traffic in much of Sarnia's east end as cars and tractor trailers were rerouted to city streets.

Police and fire crews were on the scene for hours working on plans to empty and remove the truck. The westbound lanes of Highway 402 and a portion of Highway 40 remained closed late Tuesday.

Near the truck, the smell of gasoline was thick in the air. Sarnia Fire Chief Pat Cayen said the flammable cargo would complicate the clean up.

"We want to make sure it's safe for everyone including the motoring public," he said.

Crews planned to drill holes in the trailer, drain the remaining fuel sludge to another truck, then coat it with foam to prevent fire. Towing crews were to then lift the truck from the ditch.

"Everyone here is an expert at something and they all have an important role to play," said Const. Chrystal Jones of Lambton OPP.

The ditch was dry at the time and the fuel soaked into the ground, mitigating potential risk of chemicals spreading, said Sean Morrison, senior environmental officer with the Environment Ministry.

"The main issue will be the soil clean up afterwards."