A garbage truck spill wreaked havoc on Highway 427 in the west end this afternoon.

The overturned truck blocked all southbound lanes between Highway 401 and Rathburn Road for more than four hours.

Ontario Provincial Police said the lanes reopened by about 5 p.m.

Motorists had been urged to avoid the area as the mess wasn't expected to be cleared by the evening commute.

The male truck driver was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said.

It's not yet clear what triggered the accident.