A view of the work on Tuesday afternoon.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced I-95 will reopen this weekend.
PennDOT and contractors have been working around-the-clock since Sunday, June 11 to reopen the six-lane section of highway in the area of Cottman Avenue. They have demolished the damaged portion of I-95 and implement a temporary fix to one of America’s busiest highways.
“Based on the tremendous progress these crews made over the weekend and the time it takes to complete the remaining steps, I can now say that we will have I-95 back open this weekend,” said Shapiro. “We have worked around the clock to get this done, and we’ve completed each phase safely and ahead of schedule. That’s all due to the incredible coordination with our local, state, and federal partners – and thanks to the hard-working men and women of the Philadelphia Building Trades who are making this happen.”
Shapiro said it was not certain whether the reopening would be Saturday or Sunday. He added that time is needed to pave the highway and allow it to dry.
Initial estimates for repairs were months and then weeks, but Shapiro said crews showcased Pennsylvania “grit and hard work.” The latest deadline beats a goal from over the weekend to reopen I-95 in two weeks.
A crash happened just before 6:30 a.m. Sunday, June 11 on the ramp under the highway when a truck filled with fuel crashed and exploded. The driver of the truck was killed, and the cause of the crash is under investigation by state police and federal transportation officials. The fire caused the northbound lanes of I-95 to collapse and the southbound lanes to be badly damaged.
Demolition of the collapsed northbound lanes started within hours of the crash. The damaged southbound lanes that go over the ramp where the wreck happened were completely demolished within four days.
The temporary fix is being made by crews laying an ultra-lightweight foamed glass aggregate to build up to surface level. The material is created in Delaware County.
State officials said crews will be paving three new lanes in both directions throughout the week on top of the aggregate.
Troopers from the Pennsylvania State Police will be escorting paving trucks to the site to speed up the process, officials said.
PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said the foamed glass aggregate is safe and has been used in projects throughout Pennsylvania and other states, including New Jersey, Maine, Virginia, and Rhode Island.
“This glass aggregate is already in use under some sections of I-95,” he said, citing it is a high-quality product that can take the weight of vehicles traveling over it.
Shapiro, citing a federal official’s numbers, said the temporary fix would cost $25 to $30 million. He noted President Joe Biden pledged the federal government will cover the cost.
The governor said the reopening is only possible because of the hard work of emergency responders, government officials, unions, and businesses that made the temporary fix.
Carroll said engineers were working on a permanent repair to the area.
The governor stated the permanent fix will be made without having to cause another significant closure of I-95.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney thanked all those who helped fix the highway.
In the wake of the reconstruction, PennDOT and Shapiro’s office have begun streaming video of the demolition and construction effort. The governor has been showing the stream in his office in Harrisburg and some Philadelphia bars have been airing it on TVs.
Biden and Shapiro took an aerial tour of the scene over the weekend. Following the tour, the president was briefed on the I-95 collapse and repairs by Shapiro, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris, and Carroll.
