The collapse of a section of I-95 in Northeast Philadelphia occurred on a Sunday when a tanker truck carrying gasoline exploded along a ramp on Cottman Avenue. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has outlined a plan for the reconstruction of the affected highway. This plan involves filling the gap left by the collapse with locally-sourced backfill, which will then be paved over to restore six lanes of roadway. However, an exact timeline for the completion of these repairs was not provided. The governor emphasized the commitment to working around the clock, seven days a week, to restore the highway as quickly as possible.
The bridge, which is approximately 100 feet long and 150 feet wide, will not be immediately rebuilt. Instead, many tons of recycled glass aggregate will be piled into the underpass area, raising it to surface level, and then paving it over so that three lanes of traffic can reopen each way. Later, a replacement bridge will be built next to the repaired section to reroute traffic while crews excavate the fill to restore the exit ramp.
While the cost of the reconstruction effort has not yet been estimated, Governor Shapiro announced that the federal government will cover these expenses. In addition, Democratic Pennsylvania Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman, along with Congressman Brendan Boyle, secured $3 million in emergency funding for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) for repairs related to the I-95 collapse. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has also reassured that all necessary federal resources will be available to PennDOT for the restoration of the highway, which is a key thoroughfare for the country's supply chain stretching from Maine to Miami. Throughout the construction process, a live feed from a camera at the site will be available to the public to monitor the progress.
