The eastbound lanes of Interstate 694 in Little Canada reopened before noon Friday following an hours-long shutdown after a semitrailer truck overturned and the hogs it was carrying got loose.
State troopers who initially arrived at the scene attempted to corral several loose pigs that cameras showed running through traffic on I-694 at the west junction of Interstate 35E immediately after the mishap about 7:35 a.m.
Skid loaders and wreckers were brought in to get the truck upright and clean up the mess that tangled morning rush-hour traffic and led to a backup of more than a mile, Minnesota Department of Transportation cameras showed.
Authorities also rounded up the pigs, including some animals that were injured.
Motorists were detoured south on I-35E while the lanes were closed. But lanes reopened much sooner than the 1 p.m. opening MnDOT predicted.
The truck driver was not hurt, said Lt. Gordon Shank with the Minnesota State Patrol.
Investigators are trying to determine what caused the semi to tip over as it navigated the curve on I-694 where it joins with northbound I-35E.
