PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited the I-95 collapse site in Tacony on Tuesday, promising support from the federal government as the interstate is rebuilt.
Buttigieg donned a hard hat and joined Mayor Kenney and PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll in touring the collapse scene. As the demolition of the southbound lanes continued behind him, Buttigieg then told reporters that it was critically important to get the highway open again.
"This tragic crash is having an outsized impact on commuters and on goods movement up and down the I-95 corridor. It’s a key artery," he said.
The transportation secretary said with trucks needing to run longer routes, the collapse could cause goods and services to cost more. Buttigieg says all of the federal resources PennDOT needed would be available, whether it’s “quick release” funds or federal reimbursements.
Related
Buttigieg said federal support could possibly be available for SEPTA too, for its extra expense in responding to this incident.
He said he got about 30 yards away from the actual scene. He was struck by the coordination of all of the different state and city agencies that came together and their ability to respond to this tragedy so quickly.
Timeline for reopening
Kenney said the transportation secretary’s visit to the crash scene was reassuring.
"It reinforces the federal government’s commitment to getting this done. This is not only an issue for Philadelphia, it’s an issue for the entire east coast from New York to D.C. to Florida and all the way up to Maine. I mean, it’s a federal highway, and we’re going to get it done as fast as we can," he said.
RELATED
He noted the wreckage beneath the highway has already been cleared and he asked for patience as demolition continues.
"I understand it’s an inconvenience. We lost a life — the poor truck driver was killed as the result of an accident. We’re going to go as fast as we can."
He said the state and federal governments will have the main role in rebuilding the road.
Related
Carroll pointed out that crews are working 24/7 to clear the site.
"That process is well underway. And it will continue through the night tonight to get us to a conclusion of the demolition. And then we can proceed with a remedy that will reopen I-95," he said.
That remedy and a specific timeline as to when temporary or permanent structures may be built will come Wednesday when Gov. Josh Shapiro joins the Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council and other leaders in Philadelphia's building trades for the announcement.
Similar incidents in other states
Investigators believe the truck driver, identified as Nathaniel Moody, crashed around 6:15 a.m. on Sunday while driving around a turn at the end of the Cottman Avenue exit off I-95. An intense fire ignited, causing the northbound lanes above to collapse and structurally compromising the southbound lanes.
RELATED
The damaged I-95 segment carries about 160,000 vehicles daily, believed to be the busiest roadway in Pennsylvania, state officials said.
Officials estimate repairs will take several months to complete.
PennDOT rated the 104-foot span of I-95 as in good condition earlier this year, with another inspection set for 2025.
In California, a similar situation happened with a highway ramp in Oakland. It was replaced in 26 days, Joseph L. Schofer, a retired professor of civil and environmental engineering from Northwestern University, said.
In Atlanta, an elevated portion of Interstate 85 collapsed in a fire, shutting down the heavily traveled route through the heart of the city in March 2017. It took authorities there 43 days to replace it, Schofer said.
——
The Associated Press contributed to this report.