Reconstruction efforts on the portion of Interstate 95 that collapsed this week in Philadelphia will continue “around the clock” until the road is reopened, vowed Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Shapiro laid out the repair plans during a Wednesday news conference in front of the damaged site, saying crews will use a recycled glass aggregate filling to bring a hole to surface level before paving over it.
“We have determined collectively that the most efficient way to reopen I-95 is to back fill the gap in the roadway … and then pave over it,” Shapiro said. “This approach will allow us to avoid delays due to shipment and supply chain issues, and pursue a simple, quicker path. Once complete, cars and trucks can return to this stretch of 95, and then we will work together to build a permanent bridge while making sure we keep six lanes of traffic open at all times.”
Shapiro said the demolition of the remaining structure is expected to be complete Thursday, four days after a tractor-trailer fire early Sunday destroyed northbound lanes and damaged southbound lanes of the busy highway.
The governor didn’t specify how long he expects the reconstruction to take but previously said it would be “some number of months.” Both sides of I-95 are currently closed.
“When y’all are sleeping in the middle of the night, when I’m sleeping in the middle of the night, these guys are gonna be working on this road,” Shapiro said Wednesday. “When some of you choose to take a day and go down the shore, they’re gonna be working on this road.”
Authorities said the driver of the tractor-trailer, identified as 53-year-old Nathan Moody, died in the incident. The fire occurred after the vehicle, which was carrying gasoline, flipped on a ramp, according to officials.
Shapiro issued a disaster declaration Monday, and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg promised federal support during his visit to the site Tuesday.
Officials have expressed I-95′s importance to the economy. About 160,000 vehicles drove each day on the stretch damaged in the blaze.