Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro says he will issue a disaster declaration as early as today to help in reconstructing a heavily traveled section of Interstate 95 that collapsed Sunday morning in Northeast Philadelphia.
“I-95 is a critical roadway that supports our economy and plays an important role in folks’ everyday lives,” Shapiro said.
A tanker truck caught fire under a section of I-95 just after 6 a.m. Sunday. The northbound section collapsed, but the southbound span has also been deemed unsafe, Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management officials said.
The collapse is expected make commuting and travel through the area a headache for weeks to come as transportation officials try to devise alternative routes for drivers.
Where is I-95 located?
The nearly 1,917-mile interstate runs from Miami, Florida, through Maine to Canada. Fifty-one of those miles in the Philadelphia area where it runs parallel to the Delaware River between Delaware and New Jersey.
Where is I-95 collapsed in Philadelphia?
The collapsed portion carries about 160,000 cars daily, according to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll.
Heat from tanker fire collapses bridge
Black smoke engulfs a portion of I-95 Sunday morning in Philadelphia while traffic on the northbound lane is halted by the collapsed bridge.
I-95 closures in Philadelphia
The city of Philadelphia says these roads and ramps are closed:
- Castor Avenue on-ramp for I-95 northbound
- Aramingo Avenue/I-95 on and off-ramps
- On-ramp to I-95 northbound closed
- Betsy Ross off-ramp to I-95 northbound closed
- Bridge Street ramp
- I-95 on-ramp at Bridge Street closed
- All traffic on Tacony Street will flow northbound only from Bridge Street to New State Road
- Tacony Street and Tacony-Palmyra Bridge
- Tacony Palmyra Bridge traffic onto Tacony Street closed. All traffic continues westbound onto Levick Street
- Cottman Avenue exit and State Road closures
- State Road from Cottman Avenue to Longshore Avenue will be one-way, southbound travel only
I-95 detour in Philadelphia
Transportation officials currently recommend drivers use these detours:
- For people traveling on I-95 southbound: Use Route 63 West (Woodhaven Road), U.S. 1 South, 76 East to 676 East.
- For people traveling I-95 northbound: I-676 West, I-76 West, U.S. 1 North to Route 63 East (Woodhaven Road).
Contributing: Grace Hauck, Anthony DiMattia
