A segment of Interstate 95 in the northeastern part of Philadelphia that underwent reconstruction following a fire last summer has recently been reopened for traffic.
The fire resulted from a tanker truck loaded with gasoline crashing into the interstate bridge over Cottman Avenue. This incident occurred on June 11, leading to the closure of a section of the heavily used interstate. Unfortunately, the truck driver lost their life in the crash.
In response, both the state and city acted swiftly, using a recycled glass product to fill the gap between the surface street and the interstate. They also paved six temporary lanes in each direction. Surprisingly, the damaged part of I-95 was back in operation on June 23, just 12 days after the accident, defying the initial prediction of months for repairs.
The northbound lanes were reopened on November 6, while efforts are ongoing to construct new permanent southbound lanes. The entire reconstruction project, including the lower portion of the Cottman Avenue offramp, is anticipated to conclude, and the northbound interchange is set to reopen in 2024.
“Today serves as another example to all that Pennsylvania can do big things,” said Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll at an event marking the opening of the new northbound lanes. “Thanks to the dedication of the workers and continued coordination between the Shapiro Administration, our federal partners, and the City of Philadelphia, traffic continues to flow freely on I-95 and we are one step closer to restoring I-95 to its full capacity.”
The recycled glass material utilized in the construction of the temporary roadway will find further use in various projects along the I-95 corridor, as stated by PennDOT.
