PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The newly built temporary lanes of I-95 have opened up to traffic, just 12 days after a tanker crash and explosion leveled a section of the highway.
According to Buckley Construction, crews opened the southbound side first. They paced traffic because they had to pick up miles of cones and uncover new signs.
Then, they followed the same process on the northbound side, so the entire stretch of I-95 could be fully open by 2 p.m.
Gov. Josh Shapiro, Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll, Mayor Jim Kenney, and Philadelphia Building Trades members and contractors spoke on the brand-new pavement prior to the opening on Friday.
Shapiro praised the dozens of crew members who have been working around the clock to reopen the interstate as quickly and safely as possible.
"Let this serve as an example of how Pennsylvania can do big things. That when we come together, when we're determined, we can get stuff done," he shouted proudly.
President Joe Biden commended them, too.
He said in a statement: "I grew up in Claymont, Delaware not far from the damaged stretch of I-95. I know how important it is to people’s quality of life, the local economy, and the 150,000 vehicles that travel on it every day. That’s why I’m so proud of the hard-working men and women on site who put their heads down, stayed at it, and got I-95 reopened in record time."
Crews have been working nonstop since a tanker truck carrying gasoline crashed under I-95 and caught on fire, which caused a portion of the elevated highway to collapse, killing the driver.
Workers filled the gap with 2,000 tons of material made of recycled glass. Then, they paved six lanes of traffic on top.
While traffic is flowing again, the work will go on to build the permanent replacement bridge on the outside of the interim lanes. A timeline for that phase of construction is still unclear. Shapiro said earlier this week that PennDOT would have a better idea after the temporary section opens.
The interim lanes are 11 feet wide, a bit tighter than normal. Officials urge motorists to drive with caution.
For those who are concerned about safety, Carroll said this method and technology is nothing new; it is common in road construction in Pennsylvania and neighboring states.
“They’re already driving over it in many places, including in Philadelphia. It’s used in states all around us. Very common technology; not anything novel,” he said. “They’ve already been on it before and they’ll be on it again.”
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