That fire was fueled by construction materials stored in a state-owned storage lot under the highway. Traffic was diverted to other interstates in and around the city. ![]() Officials were able to replace five spans of the overpass in six weeks – sooner than originally expected – but the repairs came with a $16 million price tag. In 2017, a 92-foot-long elevated section of Interstate 85 in Atlanta collapsed following a fire. Officials from New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland have been “quite helpful” managing I-95 traffic in the wake of the bridge collapse, Carroll, the state’s transportation secretary, said Monday.Ī previous highway collapse illustrated how long it can take to make repairs. Officials warned residents to avoid the area and to expect delays of trash collection and bus routes in the area. ![]() While the fire was contained by Sunday afternoon, firefighters remained at the scene as a precaution “because of the large volume of product that was involved,” Philadelphia Fire Department Deputy Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson said.Ĭrews worked through the night to clear the collapsed section of the road. I-95, of course, is a critical roadway that supports our economy and plays an important role in folks’ everyday lives,” Shapiro said. The governor said Buttigieg “has assured me that there will be absolutely no delay in getting federal funds deployed to quickly help us rebuild this critical artery. on the Trenton, West Trenton and Fox Chase Lines,” said SEPTA, the sixth-largest public transportation agency in the US.Īn officer directs traffic detoured from a collapsed section of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia on Monday. “In order to accommodate travel through the city and region following the I-95 collapse, SEPTA will provide added capacity and Service. Leslie Richards, general manager of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), said the agency is adding extra capacity and service to other transportation routes and evaluating all options in assisting travelers as they work around the highway collapse. ![]() Northbound drivers can detour to I-676 West, I-76 West, US 1 North to Route 63 East. Some surrounding streets are also closed for the emergency response.ĭrivers heading southbound can take Route 63 West, US 1 South, I-76 East and I-676 East, the city said. Brendan Boyle, a Democrat whose district includes the collapsed section of the highway, told CNN that “you are literally going to have millions of people in what is one of the largest population centers in the country impacted in a significant way.”Īll lanes of I-95 are closed between the Woodhaven and Aramingo exits, the city of Philadelphia said. Millions of people ‘impacted in a significant way’ “I found myself thanking the Lord that no motorists who were on I-95 were injured or died,” Shapiro said. Restoring the highway will likely take months, he said, adding that his office was looking into “alternatives to connect the roadway beyond detours.” Northbound lanes collapsed and southbound lanes were damaged due to the intensity of the inferno and were “not structurally sound to carry any traffic,” Shapiro said. “We’re talking about major structural work.” “To be clear, swiftly is not going to be overnight,” Buttigieg told reporters Monday at an event hosted by the American Council of Engineering Companies. US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said his agency is prepared to help local officials swiftly address the extensive disruption caused by the collapse. The roadway is one of the busiest interstates in the region, typically carrying about 160,000 vehicles through Philadelphia daily.Ī screen grab from video provided by WPVI-TV/6ABC shows the collapsed section of I-95 as crews continue to work on the scene in Philadelphia on Monday. Josh Shapiro issued a disaster declaration Monday, which allows the state to dip into federal funds and cut red tape to expedite repairs. State police would not identify the company.Īuthorities have not identified the driver. The company that owns the truck has been in contact with officials and is complying with state police, officials said. Officials will not launch a criminal investigation into the collapse, Pennsylvania State Police said Monday. The truck was carrying 8,500 gallons of gasoline, Pennsylvania State Police said. The truck “landed on its side,” and the crash into the wall ignited the fire, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll said Monday. Will the I-95 collapse in Philadelphia hurt the economy? Look at other cities for answers City of Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management/Reuters A general view shows the partial collapse of Interstate 95 after a fire underneath an overpass in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 11, 2023.
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