PHILADELPHIA — Commuters searched for new ways to reach their jobs and government officials vowed to fast-track repairs after the partial collapse of an overpass on heavily traveled Interstate 95.
The highway was severed between Exits 30 and 32 early Sunday when a truck carrying gasoline caught fire beneath the elevated lanes near Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia.
The northbound lanes largely fell under the intense heat of the burning fuel, officials said. Southbound lanes stayed in place, but suffered extensive structural damage
Here are the latest developments:
Tanker truck driver was South Jersey man
The body of a South Jersey trucker was recovered from the accident scene on Monday, said Pennsylvania State Police.
He was identified as Nathaniel Moody of Pennsauken and an employee of TK Trucking, also of Pennsauken.
Moody’s body was found in his charred vehicle, buried beneath debris at the accident site.
However, the city’s Medical Examiner’s Office on Monday afternoon said “no final determination has yet been made on any remains recovered from the site.”
It said more information would not be forthcoming until late Tuesday morning at the earliest.
Accident investigation is underway
The National Transportation Safety Board said it is coordinating with local, state and federal agencies for an ongoing investigation.
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“Today, the team began gathering data about the truck, and contacted the motor carrier about its fleet operation,” the agency said in a statement.
“The team also started gathering information from emergency response teams on the sequence of events.”
The NTSB said a preliminary report would be available in two to three weeks.
Governor Josh Shapiro signs disaster declaration
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro at noon Monday signed a proclamation of disaster emergency, allowing the state to quickly draw down federal funds.
The proclamation makes $7 million of state funds immediately available for the road’s reconstruction, according to a statement from Shapiro’s office.
And it authorizes Pennsylvania’s Emergency Management Agency, Department of Transportation, and State Police to use all available resources and personnel, as necessary.
“The proclamation also cuts red tape, waiving bidding and contracting procedures, as well as other formalities normally prescribed by law,” the statement said.
It will remain in place for 21 days, unless extended by Pennsylvania’s Legislature.
The governor said he also spoke with President Joe Biden, “who reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to provide whatever resources are needed to repair I-95 safely and efficiently.”
What’s next? When will I-95 be repaired?
Demolition of the overpass began Monday morning, and is expected to be completed in four to five days.
Crews will work around the clock to ensure that demolition and reconstruction occurs quickly and efficiently, and that the roadway will reopen as soon as possible,” said Mike Carroll, Pennsylvania’s transportation secretary.
Construction crews will need “some number of months” to restore the roadway, Shapiro said at a press conference on Sunday.
He said a timeline for repairs will become more clear in coming days once engineers from Pennsylvania’s Department of Transportation complete a review.
“The interstate is still closed in both directions in this area,” according to Pennsylvania’s Department of Transportation, or PennDOT. “Demolition of the collapsed bridges has begun and detours are in place.”
Southbound I-95 motorists can go as far south as the Cottman Avenue exit, according to PennDOT. “Northbound I-95 motorists can go as far north as Exit 26 which is Betsy Ross Bridge/Aramingo Avenue.”
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What does this mean for motorists? I-95 detour:
Travelers should expect delays and plan alternative routes, particularly for weekday commutes, says a website created by Philadelphia’s government.
Check for the latest detours and closures at pa.gov/i95updates.
Among changes affecting South Jersey motorists, the Betsy Ross Bridge off-ramp to I-95 northbound is closed.
And drivers crossing the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge into Philadelphia will not have access to Tacony Street. Instead, all traffic is to continue westbound onto Levick Street.
The Delaware River Port Authority, seeking to minimize any obstacles for motorists, on Monday delayed for one day a construction project that would have closed one westbound lane on each of the Benjamin Franklin and Walt Whitman bridges.
“It does not appear we had any significant impacts to bridge traffic,” said DRPA spokesman Mike Williams. “We will monitor the situation and adjust when possible to accommodate any changes.”
The DRPA reported no significant impact on the PATCO Hi-Speedline between South Jersey and Center City.
How about mass transit? SEPTA expanding capacity
SEPTA, the regional rail carrier, predicted the collapse “will have a tremendous impact on the region’s transportation network.”
The transit agency on Monday will increase capacity during peak service on two regional lines for New Jersey commuters, the Trenton and West Trenton lines.
Service also will be boosted on the Fox Chase regional rail line.
The Market-Frankford Line will run trains every six minutes during peak hours.
The Frankford Transportation Center, about three miles from the Betsy Ross Bridge connection to Pennsauken, has 500 free parking spaces.
Philadelphia Parking Authority parking lots near SEPTA stations will be free.
Some SEPTA routes are being detoured due to the collapse. Check SEPTA’s website or app for details.
Was anyone hurt or injured?
Shapiro described the collapse scene as “remarkable devastation” and noted one vehicle remained trapped under rubble on Sunday afternoon.
“We’re still working to identify any individual or individuals who may have been caught in the fire or collapse,” he said.
At the same time, he noted, “I found myself, you know, thanking the Lord that no motorists who were on I-95 were injured or died.”
Who’s responding to the incident?
Agencies on the scene Sunday included the Federal Emergency Management Administration, the National Transportation Safety Bureau, Pennsylvania’s Department of Transportation and Philadelphia’s police and other municipal departments.
Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection and the Coast Guard were watching for possible pollution in the nearby Delaware River, but no major problems were seen Sunday, according to Shapiro.
This story will be updated.
Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email him at jwalsh@cpsj.com.
