A stretch of Interstate 95 in Norwalk, Connecticut, is now accessible again after a crash and subsequent fire on Thursday, May 2, caused damage to a bridge overhead.
The northbound section became usable once more on Saturday, while the southbound lane, where the accident happened, reopened on Sunday. Remarkably, the extensive repairs, including the removal of the badly affected bridge and fixing the road surface of I-95, were completed within just 80 hours, as confirmed by state authorities.
Governor Ned Lamont’s office released a statement outlining the tasks undertaken, which included demolishing the Fairfield Avenue Bridge spanning I-95, clearing away large quantities of concrete, steel, and other debris from the highway, thorough cleaning of the road, milling, repaving, and reapplying pavement markings.
“It is truly amazing that in less than 80 hours from that fiery crash Thursday that shut down traffic in both directions, the highway again is fully open,” Lamont said Sunday, May 5. “It takes a village, and from the response from local and state police and fire departments to the environmental cleanup by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the demolition and rebuilding by the Connecticut Department of Transportation and contractors, everyone did their part. I am impressed by these efforts and thankful for the dedication, skill, and labor of everyone who has been involved.”
Over the weekend, engineers from the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) dedicated their efforts to drafting preliminary plans for the replacement of the Fairfield Avenue Bridge, as stated by Governor Lamont’s office. These initial blueprints are anticipated to be finalized within the coming two weeks.
The collision leading to the fire occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning, when a car abruptly changed lanes in front of a truck towing a flatbed trailer near the Fairfield Avenue overpass, just beyond exit 15 south. As a result, the truck swerved to avoid the car and collided with the rear of a fuel tanker, triggering a blaze beneath the overpass and causing gasoline to spill onto the roadway.
Fortunately, no severe injuries were reported.
This segment of I-95 accommodates approximately 160,000 vehicles daily. The accident and subsequent closure of the highway resulted in significant traffic congestion, prompting the local school district to cancel classes. Trucking companies were advised to utilize alternative routes via I-84 and I-87.
