Part of overpass on I-95 in NE Philly collapses after tanker fire

[connroadgeek]

Eerily similar thing happened on I-95 in Bridgeport CT nearly 20 years ago. A tanker caught fire and melted the steel beams just like this case. I think ConnDOT had a temporary bridge installed within a week or two until they could reconstruct the melted overpass.

[sprjus4]

Question, will this impact NJTP traffic, or long distance NY to DC?
I would think no, that I-295 would have more issues, but wanted to check.

I mean, there may be some slightly increased traffic on the southern portion that's still only 4 lanes, which may result in slightly more congestion during peak weekends, but other than that I wouldn't imagine it would have any significant impact.

Most long-distance traffic is using the Turnpike to bypass Philadelphia already.

[MASTERNC]

Anecdotally I'm hearing truck traffic is much heavier on I-476 and there are additional delays at the I-95 interchange

[sprjus4]

Anecdotally I'm hearing truck traffic is much heavier on I-476 and there are additional delays at the I-95 interchange

I'm assuming the increased traffic on I-476 is south of I-276?

[MATraveler128]

Anecdotally I'm hearing truck traffic is much heavier on I-476 and there are additional delays at the I-95 interchange

I'm assuming the increased traffic on I-476 is south of I-276?

Traffic is generally heavy south of the Turnpike. I'd imagine the 4 lane section south of US 1 will probably suffer a lot from this closure.

[elsmere241]

You can thank the NIMBYs for that four-lane section of 476.

I just wonder about access to/from the Betsy Ross and Tacony-Palmyra bridges on the Pennsylvania side.  With no I-95 to access, is that traffic using city streets?

[jeffandnicole]

So here's my trip report for this morning, leaving my house about 6:50am and traveling north on 295 towards Trenton:

I-295 was appreciably heavier (and other coworkers noted that as well), but notably I mostly saw Jersey tags. Also noticed when I drove over I-76 that congestion was down on that road. So the immediate conclusion...Jersey traffic just staying on the Jersey side of the river going up 295 and finding another bridge to cross, rather than taling the Walt Whitman (I-76) or Ben Franklin (I-676) Bridges into Philly then taking 95 to NE Philly and points North. No exit off of 295 was noticeable heavier with traffic, meaning traffic was scattering based on where they needed to go, taking one of the many other bridges further north. Always going to be some PA cars in the mix on 295 in NJ, but nothing out of the ordinary.

VMS signage on several signs on 295:
I-95 CLOSED IN NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA;
FOLLOW DETOUR BETWEEN EXITS 22 AND 35

[MASTERNC]

Anecdotally I'm hearing truck traffic is much heavier on I-476 and there are additional delays at the I-95 interchange

I'm assuming the increased traffic on I-476 is south of I-276?

Southbound was appreciably heavier in the spot around US 1 late this morning (normally doesn't back up at that time of day - more akin to a weekend) and again near I-95 (where a cop was on the shoulder with a disabled vehicle).  Northbound wasn't nearly as bad.

[Ted$8roadFan]

Anecdotally I'm hearing truck traffic is much heavier on I-476 and there are additional delays at the I-95 interchange

I'm assuming the increased traffic on I-476 is south of I-276?

Southbound was appreciably heavier in the spot around US 1 late this morning (normally doesn't back up at that time of day - more akin to a weekend) and again near I-95 (where a cop was on the shoulder with a disabled vehicle).  Northbound wasn't nearly as bad.

IIRC, the Blue Route (I-476) narrows from three to two lanes southbound at US 1.

[Dough4872]

Anecdotally I'm hearing truck traffic is much heavier on I-476 and there are additional delays at the I-95 interchange

I'm assuming the increased traffic on I-476 is south of I-276?

Southbound was appreciably heavier in the spot around US 1 late this morning (normally doesn't back up at that time of day - more akin to a weekend) and again near I-95 (where a cop was on the shoulder with a disabled vehicle).  Northbound wasn't nearly as bad.

IIRC, the Blue Route (I-476) narrows from three to two lanes southbound at US 1.

I-476 narrows to two lanes southbound past the PA 3 exit, but there is briefly a third southbound truck lane along a stretch between the PA 3 and US 1 interchanges

[The Nature Boy]

The only way the NJTP would be toll-free from Southpoint to Exit 6 is if someone is paying for it...be it USDOT/FHWA, PennDOT/PA, etc. I don't see that happening

The Turnpike Authority isn't going to offer free rides because "free"  I-95 thru Philly is broken

I do thing this scenario highlights that the NJTP between I-295 and Exit 6 really should be made a formal part of the Interstate Highway System and designated as such. An I-95E or I-895 (or other available even 3di) designation/shield would get the job done. That said, the Turnpike has not shown any interest in seeking the I-shield south of Exit 6 that I'm aware of.

I don't think designating the southern part of the NJTP an Interstate will really change traffic habits. Although it would make sense to incorporate it into the Interstate Highway System.

Given that the most popular thru route involving taking I-295 across the DE Memorial Bridge and then NJTP, I would re-route I-95 along that route and designate the existing stretch of I-95 through Wilmington and Pennsylvania as I-895.

It isn't politically feasible since PA wouldn't want to lose I-95 but it would be consistent with everyone's driving patterns.

[Dough4872]

The only way the NJTP would be toll-free from Southpoint to Exit 6 is if someone is paying for it...be it USDOT/FHWA, PennDOT/PA, etc. I don't see that happening

The Turnpike Authority isn't going to offer free rides because "free"  I-95 thru Philly is broken

I do thing this scenario highlights that the NJTP between I-295 and Exit 6 really should be made a formal part of the Interstate Highway System and designated as such. An I-95E or I-895 (or other available even 3di) designation/shield would get the job done. That said, the Turnpike has not shown any interest in seeking the I-shield south of Exit 6 that I'm aware of.

I don't think designating the southern part of the NJTP an Interstate will really change traffic habits. Although it would make sense to incorporate it into the Interstate Highway System.

Given that the most popular thru route involving taking I-295 across the DE Memorial Bridge and then NJTP, I would re-route I-95 along that route and designate the existing stretch of I-95 through Wilmington and Pennsylvania as I-895.

It isn't politically feasible since PA wouldn't want to lose I-95 but it would be consistent with everyone's driving patterns.

Yeah there is no way Philadelphia or Pennsylvania officials would want to lose the I-95 designation. Motorists should understand the logic of 3-digit Interstate bypasses, not to mention GPSs would take them the best way regardless of route number.

[Rothman]

We're getting into kooky territory now.

Now, I want a cookie..

[The Ghostbuster]

The Interstate 95 designation is not going anywhere. Any rerouting of Interstate 95 between Wilmington, DE and New York City, NY is Fictional Highways material (although I wouldn't oppose renumbering the New Jersey Turnpike between Interstate 295 and Interstate 95 at Exit 6 to either 695 or 895).

[Mr. Matté]

We're getting into kooky territory now.

Now, I want a cookie..

Combine the two:

"A-E-I-O-U, A-E-I-O-U"

(one of two reasons why Edd Byrnes is not in contention to replace Pat Sajak once he retires next year)

[kphoger]

Impact font memes in 2023. Sure, buddy.

[jmacswimmer]

Looked at the DelDOT app and VMSs on I-95 northbound past the DE 896 and DE 1 interchanges are mentioning the closure in Pennsylvania and directing truck traffic to use I-295 to New Jersey.

Looks like Maryland is warning of the closure as far south as BWI Airport

Got a picture of one of the VMS's on I-95 "between the beltways" warning of the closure while out doing field work today. The photo below is a relatively new VMS just north of exit 38, but the VMS's by the rest area between exits 35 & 38 and between exits 47 & 49 were showing the same message:



The bottom line of the sign was alternating between "USE ALT ROUTES" (as shown) & "ALL LANES CLOSED".

[jdb1234]

This reminds me a lot of the tanker fire accident on I-65 @ I-20/59 back in 2002 (this interchange would have a similar accident 2 years later on a different bridge). This new bridge opened 53 days after the accident.

The bridge on I-75 @ US 301 was rebuilt in a few weeks after a tanker fire back in 2008.

[kphoger]

I-85 in Atlanta took 53 days (counting from the day the fire started?)

This reminds me a lot of the tanker fire accident on I-65 @ I-20/59 back in 2002 (this interchange would have a similar accident 2 years later on a different bridge). This new bridge opened 53 days after the accident.

Weird coincidence.

[jeffandnicole]

So my commute home on I-295 in NJ (from about 4:15 to 5:05pm): It was oddly fast for a while...we were traveling over 80 mph for a bit which was unusual for an afternoon rush hour.  A crash near NJ 38 had 2 lanes closed before I got there, however that was cleared a bit before I got to that point.  But...I was then in the ensuing 'wave' of packed traffic that didn't break up until about 6 miles later.  Traffic jammed again around US 30 for about 3 miles into the I-76/NJ 42 interchange, which was less than normal.  Normally, there's a 10 mile backup from NJ 73 to the I-76/NJ 42 Interchange.  Overall, my total commute time was actually a little shorter than normal, but the crash did mix things up a bit.

So, overall, at least on the Jersey side, from what I saw and heard from co-workers:  Heavier than Monday, which makes sense as a lot of people are working Mondays and Fridays from home still as a lasting change from the pandemic.  Jersey residents working in Northeast Philly and Bucks County have adjusted their commutes to use 295 in Jersey rather than 95 in PA.

This is just a 1 day review...people will eventually settle on their "new norm" in the coming week or two until the overpasses are reopened.  And to be fair...a lot can happen 5 or 10 minutes.  If I was stuck in that traffic due to the crash, my review would probably sound different.  If I happen to have had a PA tagged car in front of and behind me, I'd think the road was full of Philly vehicles escaping PA.  But a common theme certainly was traffic was clearly heavier, jammed in a few areas it normally wouldn't be jammed in (especially in the morning) but overall still moving fairly well, mostly at highway speeds.

[SectorZ]

I-85 in Atlanta took 53 days (counting from the day the fire started?)

This reminds me a lot of the tanker fire accident on I-65 @ I-20/59 back in 2002 (this interchange would have a similar accident 2 years later on a different bridge). This new bridge opened 53 days after the accident.

Weird coincidence.

It sets a solid expectation at least. Not to anyone outside this forum of course.

[sbeaver44]

Can confirm as of yesterday morning, PA Turnpike has signs about the 95 detour EB between Harrisburg West (242) and Harrisburg East (247).

[Dough4872]

I-85 in Atlanta took 53 days (counting from the day the fire started?)

This reminds me a lot of the tanker fire accident on I-65 @ I-20/59 back in 2002 (this interchange would have a similar accident 2 years later on a different bridge). This new bridge opened 53 days after the accident.

Weird coincidence.

It sets a solid expectation at least. Not to anyone outside this forum of course.

Everyone is saying it will take "months"  to replace the bridge along I-95. Yet other emergency bridge replacements only took a couple months. Something doesn't seem right here in how this will take so long.

[Alps]

The only way the NJTP would be toll-free from Southpoint to Exit 6 is if someone is paying for it...be it USDOT/FHWA, PennDOT/PA, etc. I don't see that happening

The Turnpike Authority isn't going to offer free rides because "free"  I-95 thru Philly is broken

I do think this scenario highlights that the NJTP between I-295 and Exit 6 really should be made a formal part of the Interstate Highway System and designated as such. An I-95E or I-895 (or other available even 3di) designation/shield would get the job done. That said, the Turnpike has not shown any interest in seeking the I-shield south of Exit 6 that I'm aware of.

The only even x95 that NJ hasn't considered using is 695. 895 was planned for Burlington-Bristol. NY's 695 is inconsequential and the next one south is Baltimore, so they could. But again, someone else would have to pay to add all those shields.

[akotchi]

I-695 was considered for central New Jersey as the connector between the I-95 Somerset Freeway and I-287 to/from the north.