A fuel leak from a truck closed part of E.E. Butler Parkway near downtown Gainesville for about 45 minutes late Thursday morning.

One lane in each direction was reopened shortly after noon, but traffic was still slow going through the area between College Avenue and Summit Street near Peppers Market and the old Atlanta Street public housing complex.

Gainesville fire officials said that a piece of the flatbed truck’s bumper sheared off, got caught in the undercarriage and ruptured the fuel tank.

Firefighters and crews from the Georgia Department of Transportation spread a material similar to kitty litter to absorb the estimated 50 gallons of diesel that spilled.

Traffic remained backed up in both directions and officials advised motorists to use other routes into and out of the downtown area if possible.