PHILADELPHIA — In Philadelphia, an incident occurred early Sunday where an elevated portion of Interstate 95 collapsed due to a tanker truck catching fire. This led to the closure of a significant section of the major north-south highway along the East Coast, with no estimated timeline for reopening. Authorities have advised drivers to avoid the affected area, anticipating substantial traffic delays and street closures. The tanker was carrying a flammable petroleum product, possibly containing several hundred gallons of gasoline. Firefighters took approximately an hour to bring the fire under control.
According to Derek Bowmer, a battalion chief of the Philadelphia Fire Department, the northbound lanes of I-95 were completely destroyed, while the southbound lanes were compromised due to the intense heat from the fire. Additionally, there were underground explosions, possibly caused by runoff from the fire or damaged gas lines. The incident was triggered by a crash on a ramp beneath the northbound section of I-95 around 6:15 a.m., leading to the rapid collapse of the roadway above. The extent of damage to the southbound lanes is currently being assessed by transportation officials.
According to Governor Josh Shapiro, a disaster declaration will be issued on Monday to expedite federal funding in response to the Interstate 95 collapse. He mentioned that at least one vehicle remains trapped beneath the collapsed roadway, and efforts are underway to identify anyone who may have been caught in the fire and subsequent collapse. Fortunately, there have been no immediate reports of injuries.
Videos captured at the scene reveal a substantial concrete slab that fell from I-95 onto the road below. Governor Shapiro, who flew over the area, described the devastation as remarkable. He expressed gratitude that no motorists on I-95 were harmed or killed in the incident.
Mark Fusetti, a retired Philadelphia police sergeant, witnessed the collapse of the northbound lanes of I-95. He described the timing as remarkable, with traffic stopping before the roadway crumbled. The section that collapsed had been reconstructed four years ago at a cost of $212 million. While there is no immediate timeline for reopening the highway, officials are considering temporary solutions to speed up the process.
Motorists are being directed on a 43-mile detour, which is flowing better than expected for a Sunday. However, officials anticipate significant traffic congestion in the detour areas. The affected segment of I-95 is one of the busiest interstates in Pennsylvania, accommodating approximately 160,000 vehicles daily. Efforts are underway to remove the collapsed section throughout the night.
Governor Shapiro has been in direct communication with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, assuring a swift release of federal funds to rebuild the critical roadway. However, the complete reconstruction of I-95 will take several months. Interim solutions are being explored to establish temporary connections and facilitate traffic flow.
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the incident, and the White House is in contact with Governor Shapiro and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney's offices to offer assistance. The National Transportation Safety Board will be sending a team to investigate the fire and collapse.
It's worth noting that most drivers traveling between Delaware and New York City typically use the New Jersey Turnpike rather than the section of I-95 where the collapse occurred. Prior to 2018, there was no direct highway connection between I-95 in Pennsylvania and I-95 in New Jersey, requiring drivers to use surface roads with traffic lights to transition between the two.
Officials expressed concerns about the potential environmental impact caused by runoff into the nearby Delaware River following the collapse. In response to a sheen observed in the river near the collapse site, the Coast Guard deployed a boom to contain any material. Ensign Josh Ledoux stated that while the tanker had a capacity of 8,500 gallons, there were no signs of the contents spreading into the environment. As of now, the situation appears to be under control and the waterways are being contained.
Debris removal at the site of the fire in Philadelphia's I-95 collapse requires heavy construction equipment, as reported by Dominick Mireles, director of Philadelphia's Office of Emergency Management. This incident bears similarities to a 1996 fire caused by an illegal tire dump under I-95, resulting in significant damage and lengthy road closures. In Atlanta, a similar incident occurred in 2017 when an elevated section of Interstate 85 collapsed due to a fire, disrupting traffic. Investigations revealed that storing combustible construction materials under the highway increased the fire risk.