An oil spill on State Highway 6 between Queenstown and Cromwell blocked both lanes of the highway yesterday afternoon.
A Southern District Command Centre spokesman said it appeared a 40-litre oil drum had ''come off the back of a truck'', spilling its contents about 3pm.
It is understood the spill was on the stretch of road between the power station and the Goldfields, making the road impassable.
Gravel was spread over the oil by volunteer firefighters. No-one was injured.
