{"id":18157,"date":"2023-06-12T18:07:53","date_gmt":"2023-06-13T01:07:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/tanker-fire-causes-i-95-bridge-collapse-in-philadelphia\/"},"modified":"2023-06-12T18:07:53","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T01:07:53","slug":"tanker-fire-causes-i-95-bridge-collapse-in-philadelphia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/tanker-fire-causes-i-95-bridge-collapse-in-philadelphia\/","title":{"rendered":"Tanker fire causes I-95 bridge collapse in Philadelphia"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A tanker fire below an elevated section of Interstate 95 caused the highway to collapse in Philadelphia this weekend, forcing the closure of the major East Coast artery, which officials expect to take months<\/a> to repair.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

At least one vehicle was trapped below the fallen highway in Northeast Philadelphia around 6:20 a.m. Sunday,\u00a0Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Sunday evening.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe northbound side of I-95 has completely collapsed,\u201d the governor said in a news conference<\/a>. \u201cThe southbound side is not structurally sound to carry any traffic over it.\u201d<\/p>\n

No injuries or deaths were reported, Shapiro said, but no details were available on the truck driver or company involved in the incident.<\/p>\n

The collapse threatens to disrupt freight movement along the East Coast\u2019s largest interstate. I-95 carries about 160,000 vehicles per day in the region, according to a Pennsylvania DOT spokesperson.<\/p>\n

The Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association is working with the state DOT to share updates with its member carriers and others passing through the area, President and CEO Rebecca Oyler said in a phone interview.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is an essential part of our highway network, and that makes us really critical for our trucking industry,\u201d\u00a0Oyler\u00a0said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The I-95 corridor supports about $2 trillion in domestic trade annually and reaches about 40% of the U.S. population,\u00a0according to the Eastern Transportation Coalition, a partnership of 17 states and Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg\u00a0said the closure will cause \u201csignificant impacts\u201d to both Philadelphia and the surrounding region until the roadway can be repaired.<\/p>\n

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This is a major artery for people and goods, and the closure will have significant impacts on the city and region until reconstruction and recovery are complete. Our department will be there with support throughout the process of I-95 returning to normal.<\/p>\n


\n\u2014 Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) June 11, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The state transportation department and law enforcement have set up detours around the bridge collapse.<\/p>\n

Northbound traffic is being detoured to Exit 22, to I-676 westbound, to I-76 westbound, to U.S. 1 northbound, to Pennsylvania Route 63 eastbound, back to I-95.<\/p>\n

Southbound traffic is being detoured to Exit 35, to Pennsylvania 63 westbound, to U.S. 1 southbound, to I-76 eastbound, to I-676 eastbound, back to I-95.<\/p>\n

The state trucking association is advocating for additional detours allowing trucks and other through traffic to bypass more of the local roads, Oyler said. One of the current detours has about 60 traffic lights, she estimated.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf all the local traffic as well as the through truck traffic is using that alternative, that’s gonna create a lot of congestion, obviously,\u201d the association president said. \u201cWe are working with them actively on that right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris asked those who cannot avoid driving on Philadelphia-area highways to \u201cslow down, avoid distractions, and follow the direction of first responders.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shapiro will issue a disaster declaration Monday to draw on federal funds to expedite rebuilding of the highway bridge. He said Pennsylvania\u2019s state agencies are working \u201call hands on deck\u201d in response to the agency, and Buttigieg pledged the federal transportation department\u2019s support.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will rebuild and recover,\u201d the governor said.\u00a0\u201cAnd in the meantime, we will make sure people can get to where they need to go safely.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n