Local and federal officials surveyed damage Monday from an Interstate 95 highway collapse in Philadelphia that is forcing drivers to find alternative routes around one of the busiest interstates in the nation. As crews began to clean up the disaster, the Pennsylvania governor said Monday it could take months to rebuild that section of highway.
The elevated highway's collapse was caused when a tanker truck hauling 8,500 gallons of gasoline crashed beneath it and caught fire. The deadly crash happened sometime Sunday morning before a portion of the highway collapsed at about 6:20 a.m., according to Gov. Josh Shapiro.
According to officials, the vehicle lost control while exiting the interstate, causing it to overturn and ignite underneath the I-95 overpass. Family members identified the driver, whose remains were found in the rubble as, Nathaniel Moody, 53, who drove for TK Transport, a small fleet in Pennsauken, New Jersey, that specializes in hauling fuel. According to FMCSA records, the fleet had no reported crashes over the previous 24 months.
Philadelphia city officials are attempting to help drivers navigate the road closure, which has no "perfect" alternate routes, according to Matt Pellman, a Philadelphia Action News traffic reporter. The city offered four alternate ways to get around the damage, according to Roads and Bridges, a FleetOwner affiliate.
At the I-95 site with @SenBobCasey, FHWA Admin @BhattMobileT said, “We are committed to doing everything we can to get I-95 back up and running because we know how important this interstate is to commerce, economies, and quality of life for everyone along the northeast corridor.” pic.twitter.com/lB6F5qrglk
— Federal Highway Admn (@USDOTFHWA) June 12, 2023
Federal Highway Administration leaders were on the scene in Philadelphia on Monday to review the damage and meet with state and local officials to start planning highway reconstruction. According to officials, the intense tanker fire below the overpass caused the northbound I-95 lanes to collapse and damaged the southbound side of the highway.
The 1,924-mile I-95 runs along the entire Eastern Seaboard, from Maine to Florida. It is the longest north-south interstate in the U.S., passing through 15 states and the District of Columbia. It connects to more than 25 significant seaports and serves about 40% of the country's gross domestic product, according to the Eastern Transportation Coalition.
For more coverage on this developing story, visit our Endeavor Business Media affiliate website RoadBridges.com, which has overview coverage and plans more updates this week.
