“Partial Collapse of Philadelphia Bridge leads to Traffic Disruptions and Calls for Infrastructure Investment”

Partial Philadelphia Bridge Collapse Leads To Lane Closures And Detours—Here’s What To Know About I-95

A petroleum-based product-carrying truck caught fire on Sunday, leading to the partial collapse of a northbound section of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia. As a result, the closure of the interstate in both directions is heavily impacting the daily travel of people, and local officials are releasing alternative routes and expanding alternative transportation alternatives.

Key Facts

• Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro, deemed Sunday’s collapse a “remarkable devastation.”
• 8,500 gallons of fuel were carried by the driver, who lost control of the truck and crashed eventually.
• PennDOT has listed comprehensive detours, full closures, and lane closures for District 6.
• The last project of the National Interstate Highway and Defense Highways Act of 1956, the construction of I-95 completed in 2018. I-95 is 1,900 miles long and stretches from Florida to Maine.

Alternative routes and transportation

• The southbound of I-95 is “not structurally sound to carry any traffic over it,” according to the governor. So, Pennsylvania residents must take either U.S. 1 South, Route 63 West (Woodhaven Road), I-76 East, Bleigh Avenue, I-676 East, Cottman Avenue exit, or State road.
• The northbound section of I-95, where the fire occurred, completely collapsed. Alternative routes advised include Bleigh Avenue, Milnor Street, New State Road, I-676 West, Linden Avenue, Tacony Street, U.S. 1 North to Route 63 East (Woodhaven Road), Exit 26 (Betsy Ross/Aramingo Avenue), and I-76 West.
• The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has added vehicles to trains and has allowed credit card payments.
• For travelers along the Cynwyd Regional Rail Line, accessing the Overbrook Station will necessitate a bus ride to and from.
• The Philadelphia Parking Authority tweeted that free parking would be available at Torresdale Rail Station (4900 Grant Avenue), Fox Chase Rail Station (500 Rhawn Street), and Fern Rock Rail Station (10th & Nedro Streets) due to the collapse.

Impact on travel

Approximately 160,000 cars travel on the impacted portion of I-95 in both directions, with approximately 110 million people using the interstate, according to PennDOT and The Atlantic respectively.

What’s next?

The collapse will be reviewed by engineers over the next few days for a more accurate reconstruction timeline. Governor Shapiro expects the interstate will take months to rebuild.

Conclusion

Disasters such as the I-95 collapse reveal the need for ongoing investment and rehabilitation of infrastructure in the US, specifically utilizing updated technological innovations and modelling techniques. As the US continues to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, infrastructure presents an opportunity for job creation and economic growth.