The A690 remains has reopened on Wednesday morning after a tarmac spillage on the road.
Police closed the A690 Durham Road southbound from the A19 to Stonygate near Houghton-le-Spring at around 2.45pm on Tuesday due to the "large" spillage.
It was originally thought the road would remain closed for the afternoon, however it was closed overnight and the early hours of Wednesday morning. But the road is now open.
The road closure has caused disruption to morning rush hour traffic.
Northumbria Police tweeted: "The A690 carriageway from the A19 to Stonygate is currently closed. Expected to be closed until tomorrow.
"Diversions currently in place, please use an alternative route."
Northumbria Police confirmed in a post on social media that the road would reopen on Wednesday, however a time was not specified.
The road closure, which is to allow "specialist clean-up work", caused delays throughout Tuesday evening.
Drivers were diverted north on the A19 and then told to use the A183 and A182 through Shiney Row, Philadelphia and New Bottle to rejoin the A690 at Houghton-le-Spring.
Photos and videos from the scene showed streams of queues and tailbacks as a single police car blocked the road.
The closure brought traffic to a standstill on Tuesday afternoon with queues backed up on the A690 and surrounding roads including the A19 and the A183.
The closure also caused disruptions to Go North East bus services.
