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

[kalvado]

PennDOT - District 6 News: Beam Setting Scheduled Next Week on New Bridge to Replace Fire-Damaged Bridge on I-95 at Cottman Avenue

Should that be called "lightning fast"?

[74/171FAN]

The PennDOT Way Blog has posted an article has of August 14th with updates on the permanent fix.

[jeffandnicole]

The PennDOT Way Blog has posted an article has of August 14th with updates on the permanent fix.

So they are doing a few things I was expecting:
   Replacing the abutment wall which the truck crashed into.
   Rebuilding the outer lanes 3 lanes wide.

I imagine they could build and open the west side's (95 SB) lanes first since that wall wasn't impacted, although the way the temporary roadway was built I can't see a time benefit of doing so since they can't really tear down the temporary roadway on one side only.

Excessive speeding contributes to work zone crashes across Pennsylvania, and motorists have been consistently traveling 10-15 MPH above the posted speed limit through this work zone. Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement is deployed in this work zone. PennDOT reminds drivers to slow down in work zones.

This was mentioned in the article, and they use a little 'slight of hand' wording.  To a quick reader, people are going too fast thru the work zone and causing crashes.  But the sentence doesn't say that - it just says (Point 1) crashes occur across Pennsylvania and (Point 2) motorists are speeding thru this work zone. No reference as to how many crashes have occurred...if any.  In actuality, I don't think they would be concerned if traffic was moving at 55 or 60 thru here (10-15 above the limit).  I would believe traffic is moving *much* faster - 70 and 75 mph in the 45 mph work zone, and that's the real reason to try to get people to slow down...by encouraging them to drive slower and safely giving them a ticket 3 weeks after they travelled thru here.

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT - District 6 News: Beam Setting Scheduled Next Week on New Bridge to Replace Fire-Damaged Bridge on I-95 at Cottman Avenue

PennDOT - Statewide News: Shapiro Administration Marks I-95 Reconstruction Milestone as Steel Beams are Set on the Southbound Lanes

[74/171FAN]

(Also for PA 73)  PennDOT - District 6 News: Lane Closure Planned Monday Night for I-95 Permanent Reconstruction at Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT - Statewide News: 'Fixed this jawn. Join the team.' PennDOT Kicks off Recruitment Campaign Highlighting I-95 Response, Encouraging Pennsylvanians to Join the Team Getting Stuff Done across the Commonwealth

[74/171FAN]

(For PA 73)  PennDOT - District 6 News: Paving Planned Thursday Night for I-95 Permanent Reconstruction at Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia

[74/171FAN]

(For PA 73)  PennDOT - District 6 News: I-95 Traffic Shifts Next Week Mark Completion of First Stage of Reconstruction on New Permanent Bridge at Cottman Avenue

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT - Statewide News: Shapiro Administration Marks I-95 Milestone: First Section of New Bridge Completed Ahead of Schedule

[74/171FAN]

CE Expert System:  I-95 over Cottman Ave(Permanent Repairs)

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT - District 6 News: Paving Planned Next Thursday Night for I-95 Permanent Reconstruction at Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia

[74/171FAN]

(For PA 73)  PennDOT - District 6 News: Paving Planned Tuesday Night for I-95 Permanent Reconstruction at Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia

[roadman65]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/KTvAQh6Dee5cQiYz8
They had the closures mentioned on a VMS on the PA Turnpike as far west as Carlisle. The GSV car captured it going through at the time.

[74/171FAN]

(For PA 73)  PennDOT - District 6 News: Paving Planned Tuesday Night for I-95 Permanent Reconstruction at Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia

[MASTERNC]

Looks like the road will be fully reopened

https://www.penndot.pa.gov/RegionalOffices/district-6/pages/details.aspx?newsid=9293

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that the center section of the Interstate 95 bridge and the northbound off-ramp at the Cottman Avenue Interchange in Philadelphia will reopen this week following activities at night to remove the temporary northbound and southbound traffic patterns that have been in place during the 11-month reconstruction of the fire-damaged section of the interstate.

Motorists are advised of the following travel restrictions:

Wednesday, May 22, a left lane closure will be in place at 7:00 PM, followed by a double left lane closure at 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM the following morning on southbound I-95 between the Academy Road and Betsy Ross Bridge interchangesOpens In A New Window.

Thursday, May 23, a left lane closure will be in place at 7:00 PM, followed by a double left lane closure at 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM the following morning on northbound I-95 between the Betsy Ross Bridge and Academy Road interchanges.

Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the work areas because backups and delays will occur. All scheduled activities are weather dependent.

During the nighttime activities, crews will remove temporary construction barriers and eradicate and repaint lane markings approaching and on the new bridge.

Traffic is expected to be fully restored to four through lanes on southbound I-95 by 5:00 AM Thursday, May 23. Traffic is expected to be fully restored to four through lanes on northbound I-95 by 5:00 AM Friday, May 24.

In addition, a single lane will reopen on the newly constructed ramp from northbound I-95 to Cottman AvenueOpens In A New Window by 5:00 AM Friday, May 24. The ramp will have enhanced traffic safety measures such as new signage and High Friction Surface Treatment (HFST). HFST is a treatment added to the top of a road surface that creates more friction on the pavement, helping keep vehicles in their lane and improving stopping distance around curves or other locations where wet pavement may contribute to crashes. HFST is a FHWA Every Day CountsOpens In A New Window innovation that Pennsylvania has implemented across Pennsylvania with data showing that the treatment decreases fatal and injury crashes where it is installed.

The new bridge and ramp replace the ones that were destroyed in a June 11, 2023 tanker truck crash and fire. I-95 traffic was restored to three lanes of traffic in each direction after a temporary roadway was constructed in the center of the interstate in just 12 days. The outer sections on the northbound and southbound sides of the bridge were then rebuilt before I-95 traffic was shifted from the temporary center lanes, onto the completed, outer sections of the new bridge last November.

[74/171FAN]

(For PA 73) PennDOT - District 6 News: After Reopening I-95 in Just 12 Days, Today Shapiro Administration, Federal, Local Partners Celebrate Completion of All Permanent Repairs Less Than a Year After Collapse