I-95 Collapse: Rescuers struggle to reach the vehicle trapped in the rubble
Repairs to I-95 will take months, leading to chaos on the major highway that pulls 150,000 vehicles every day along the East Coast, officials have warned.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro last night said it would take “several months” for the highway to run smoothly again after the overpass collapse.
It comes as vehicles had already backed up on Monday morning as commuters suffered long delays following the tanker truck explosion on Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, rescuers have been fighting to reach a vehicle trapped in the rubble of the collapsed highway, with officials saying the situation remains “unstable.”
Repairs to I-95 will take months, leading to chaos on the major highway that funnels 150,000 vehicles across the East Coast every day, officials have warned
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said last night it would take “several months” for the main road to run smoothly again after the overpass collapse over the weekend
An investigator investigates the aftermath of a collapsed elevated section of Interstate 95
It comes as vehicles had already backed up on Monday morning as commuters suffered long delays following the tanker truck explosion on Sunday morning
Drivers began longer commutes Monday after an elevated section of Interstate 95 collapsed in Philadelphia
Governor Shapiro said, “At least one vehicle is still trapped under the collapsed roadway.”
He added. “We are still working to identify one or more individuals who may have been involved in the fire and collapse.”
He continued, “As for the complete rebuild of the I-95 roadway, we expect it to take several months.
“We expect it to take that time, and we will have that specific timeline laid out once Penn DOT engineers complete their review.
“To expedite this process and cut through the red tape, I intend to issue a disaster declaration tomorrow morning so that the Commonwealth can immediately withdraw federal funds and act quickly to repair and reconstruct this road.”
Governor Shapiro said he spoke to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg about the tanker explosion.
He said: “Secretary Buttiegieg has assured me there will be absolutely no delay in deploying federal funds to help us quickly build this critical artery.”
A general view shows the partial collapse of Interstate 95 following a fire under an overpass in Philadelphia on Sunday
The aftermath of a collapsed elevated section of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia was imaged Monday
An investigator investigates the aftermath of a collapsed elevated section of Interstate 95
A cop directs traffic diverted from a collapsed elevated section of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia
A cop directs traffic in a neighborhood near an elevated section of Interstate 95 that has collapsed
Traffic is at a standstill in a neighborhood near an elevated section of Interstate 95 that has imploded
Traffic is at a standstill in a neighborhood near an elevated section of Interstate 95 that has collapsed
Authorities believe the tanker likely had hundreds of gallons of gasoline on board, sparking the inferno that took about an hour to bring under control.
The northern section was left with a gaping hole, while the southbound viaduct was closed as the fire rendered it structurally unsound.
Runoff from the fire or perhaps broken gas lines sparked explosions underground, experts warned.
The crash happened around 6:15 a.m. on a ramp below northbound I-95, said Brad Rudolph, spokesman for the state’s Department of Transportation.
The southbound lanes were badly damaged and Rudolph said they were being assessed for their safety.
Shapiro said it would likely take “several months” to completely rebuild the roadway, on which about 150,000 vehicles pass every day.
He said he would sign a disaster declaration on Monday, releasing federal funds and other aid.
A section of I-95 Philadelphia Interstate collapsed when a tanker truck carrying gasoline caught fire and exploded. The sheer size of the fire could be seen through a driver’s windshield
From above, the devastation after the Interstate collapse can be seen
Moments when Hallinan had crossed, a huge stretch of four-lane roadway collapsed
Shapiro said the full rebuild of I-95 would take “several months.” In the meantime, officials are looking at “workarounds to connect both sides of I-95 to get traffic through the area.”
The collapsed section of I-95 was part of a $212 million reconstruction project that was completed four years ago.
Thousands of tons of steel and concrete were piled at the site of the fire, and heavy construction equipment would be needed to remove the debris, said Dominick Mireles, director of the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management.
Shapiro said that while a “very light sheen” could be seen in the Delaware River near where the gas tanker caught fire, indicating that gasoline may have been spilled into it, booms were quickly lowered into the water to contain the contain the spread.
“There is no threat to anyone’s drinking water,” Shapiro said.
The collapse now threatens to disrupt travel in parts of the densely populated northeast
The collapse shut down four lanes along an elevated section of the heavily trafficked highway, though there were no immediate injuries
Officials are on scene after the collapse of an elevated section of Interstate 95
Mark Fusetti, a retired Philadelphia police sergeant, said he was driving south toward the city’s airport when he saw thick, black smoke rising over the highway.
As he passed the fire, the road below began to “dip,” creating a noticeable depression that was visible on the video he took of the scene, he said.
In his rearview mirror he saw the traffic come to a halt. Soon after, the northbound lanes of the highway crumbled.
“It was crazy timing,” Fusetti said. “That it buckles and collapses so quickly is pretty remarkable.”
This stretch of the I-95 corridor is located in the densely populated northeastern part of Philadelphia and connects the city to northern suburbs, such as Bucks County.
On a Sunday in the summer, it is routinely used by beachgoers coming home from the Jersey Shore. Weekdays are busy with commuters and vehicles traveling to Boston, Baltimore and Washington.
Officials said travelers should expect delays and encouraged them to plan alternative travel routes, including trains, for their commute.