Global Courant
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said Saturday that the collapsed stretch of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia will reopen in two weeks, a timeline expected to please commuters and long-haul trucks alike.
“We’re getting it done here in Philly,” Shapiro said at a press conference at Philadelphia International Airport after he, President Biden, members of Congress and the mayor of Philadelphia took a helicopter ride over the critical section of the highway that has since been closed. for East Coast traffic. last weekend.
Biden outlined the substantial initial federal commitment and longer-term support for a permanent highway fix. He said he is aware of the importance of this stretch of roadway to Philadelphia and the Northeast Corridor.
“More than 150,000 vehicles run on it every day, including 14,000 trucks… It is critical to our economy and it is critical to our quality of life,” the president said at the briefing.
PHILADELPHIA I-95 COLLAPSE: HUMAN REMAINS FOUND AT VENGE SITE, IDS TRUCK DRIVER’S FAMILY
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (right) stands next to President Joe Biden (left) as they speak of the Interstate 95 freeway collapse following an aerial view of the site at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Saturday, June 17, 2023. (AP)
Shapiro explained that he can say “with confidence” that I-95 will reopen within two weeks. “We are going to get traffic moving again thanks to the extraordinary work that is going on here,” he said.
He said people in Philadelphia “have a real renewed sense of civic pride through this project” and that “something special is happening in our community” with people coming together.
The stretch of the East Coast’s main north-south highway collapsed on June 11 after a tractor-trailer carrying gasoline overturned on an exit ramp and caught fire. State transportation officials said the driver lost control while trying to make a turn.
VIDEO CATCHES DIP IN ROAD MOMENTS BEFORE PHILADELPHIA I-95 IMPACT
The aftermath of a collapsed elevated section of Interstate 95, in Philadelphia, Monday, June 12, 2023. (AP)
“I have instructed my team … to move heaven and earth to get this done as quickly as possible,” Biden said. He said he told the governor that “as far as I’m concerned, there isn’t a more important project in the country right now.”
Pennsylvania’s plan to quickly repair the roadway involves bringing in 2,000 tons of lightweight glass nuggets and crews working around the clock until the highway is open to traffic. Instead of rebuilding the viaduct right away, Shapro has said crews will use the recycled glass to fill in the collapsed area to avoid supply chain delays for other materials instead of immediately rebuilding the viaduct.
A replacement bridge will then be built next to it to divert traffic while crews excavate the fill to restore the slip road, officials said.
An investigator investigates the aftermath of a collapsed elevated section of Interstate-95 in Philadelphia on Monday, June 12, 2023. (AP)
Biden said the design was “incredibly innovative in getting this work done in record time.”
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited the highway on Tuesday and pledged to provide the federal government with the necessary assistance to restore the destruction. However, he cautioned that the damaged highway is likely to raise the cost of consumer goods in the short term as truck drivers now have to travel longer routes.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
