Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro delivered exciting news last week, revealing that the portion of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia, which had been rendered inaccessible due to a destructive tanker truck fire, would be operational sooner than initially anticipated.

A temporary solution has been swiftly implemented, involving the creation of three lanes in each direction, while simultaneously constructing a brand-new bridge to replace the damaged one. Remarkably, this interim measure will be completed in a mere two weeks, enabling traffic to resume normal flow. The announcement was made by Governor Shapiro on Saturday, coinciding with President Joe Biden’s aerial inspection of the construction site. The unexpected progress pleasantly surprised both officials and the public alike.

“I can state with confidence that we will have I-95 reopened within the next two weeks,” said Governor Josh Shapiro at the briefing with President Biden at Philadelphia International Airport. “We are going to get traffic moving again thanks to the extraordinary work of those here and our incredible union trade workers.”

On June 11, a tragic incident occurred under the I-95 overpass when a tanker truck driven by Nathan Moody, a 53-year-old driver from New Jersey, crashed and burst into flames. The intense heat generated by the fire caused extensive destruction to the northbound lanes and inflicted severe damage to the southbound lanes of the bridge.

In response to this catastrophic event, workers have been diligently working to address the aftermath and restore the bridge to its previous functionality. Their primary task involves filling the gap left by the destroyed section of the bridge. This filling process aims to bring the level of the replacement structure up to the same height as the existing interstate.

Once the gap is filled, temporary lanes will be constructed on top of the newly created surface. This paving operation will provide a temporary solution for traffic flow until a more permanent restoration of the bridge can be completed. The efforts of these workers will not only repair the physical damage caused by the tanker fire but also help ensure the safe and efficient movement of vehicles along this vital transportation route.

A 24/7 live stream is showing progress on the reconstruction.