In the aftermath of a vehicle fire on the Route 73/Cottman Avenue ramp under Interstate 95 in Philadelphia, officials provided an update, stating that the interstate is closed in both directions and rebuilding is expected to take months.
On Sunday morning, a commercial truck carrying a petroleum-based product caught fire and caused a portion of the highway to collapse. The Pennsylvania State Police and first responders arrived at approximately 6:20 a.m.
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) has been on-site, coordinating response efforts. Mike Carroll, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation secretary, has been on-site as well.
“This incident will cause significant disruption, not only to residents and businesses in the area, but also to commerce and travelers along the East Coast,” PEMA Director Randy Padfield said. “We will work closely with our federal, state and Philadelphia partners to provide the necessary support and resources to make repairs as quickly as possible.”
The state and city police diverted traffic off I-95, and detour routes are in place.
The I-95 northbound has completely collapsed and the southbound side is no longer structurally sound.
Gov. Josh Shapiro plans to issue a disaster declaration. The declaration allow Pennsylvania to immediately receive federal funds and move quickly to begin the repair and reconstruction process.