A crew cleaning up a gasoline spill that occurred last November is now into a new phase of the project.

Last week the crew began removing asphalt and concrete curbing on the west side of Saguaro Boulevard between Trevino Drive and a point north of Rough Court.

Town Engineering Inspector Justin Weldy said they are removing 24 to 30 inches of soil that was under the asphalt and testing it for contamination.

In some areas where they find heavier concentrations they will dig deeper.

The gasoline spilled from a ruptured tanker truck in the drive between Circle K and McDonalds on Nov. 17, 2013. About 2,300 gallons of fuel spilled and ran along the gutter to a drainage culvert north of Monterey Drive.

The culvert and a wash on the other side of Saguaro have been restored.

The asphalt absorbed enough gasoline that when the crew attempted to use a milling machine to remove it the equipment ignited a couple of small explosions, according to Weldy.

Depending on the contamination level the work may last up to another six to eight weeks.

The soil will need to be replaced along with the curbing and asphalt.