PHILADELPHIA — Transportation officials are expected to unveil a reconstruction plan Wednesday for the section of I-95 that was destroyed after a tanker caught fire in Philadelphia over the weekend.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Secretary of Transportation Mike Carroll, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt, contractors, members of the Philadelphia Building Trades and other officials will provide state, local, and partners updates on the coordinated response to the I-95 collapse. federal.
They set out to offer answers to the many questions commuters and residents have about timelines for repairs.
On Tuesday, US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg visited the site of Sunday's collapse and vowed to help repair interstate roads. He said the destruction of sections of I-95 would likely increase shipping costs as truckers now had to travel longer and more expensive routes.
Buttigieg said he expected the crash to put “upward pressure” on costs along the East Coast.
“This tragic accident has had a huge impact on the movement of passengers and goods up and down the I-95 corridor. It is a major artery for the movement of people and goods. And that is why it is so important to ensure it recovers quickly. The only thing more more important than ensuring it is recovered quickly is ensuring it is recovered safely,” Buttigieg said.
Buttigieg said he had not seen any cost increases forecast, but said the industry was working to capitalize on alternative routes. He suggested that the US Department of Transportation work with routing software companies such as Google and Waze to optimize their products.
“Ultimately, there is no replacement for I-95 operating in full working condition,” Buttigieg said.
Buttigieg met with city and state officials to discuss how the US Department of Transportation could help rebuild the roughly 100-foot section of I-95, the agency said.
“This tragic accident has had an enormous impact on the movement of passengers and goods up and down the I-95 corridor. It is a major artery for the movement of people and goods. And that is why it is so important to ensure it recovers quickly,” Buttigieg said. “The only thing more important than making sure it's recovered quickly is making sure it's recovered safely.”
For now, I-95 will be closed in both directions for weeks as the summer travel season begins. increasing hundreds of thousands of morning trips And disrupting countless businesses.
The elevated southern section of I-95 must be demolished, as well as the north side, officials said.
Causes of Death of Truck Drivers
The Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office has officially identified the dead in the tanker fire that caused the crash of I-95.
Officials said Nathan Moody died from blunt head trauma, inhalation and thermal injuries. The manner of his death was stated to be an accident.
Moody was hauling gas on Sunday when he attempted a left turn after exiting the I-95 offramp Cottman Avenue.
According to Secretary Carroll, Moody lost control through the turn, and the tanker fell on its side and destroyed its own tank.
Once ignited, the fuel is burned at a heat high enough to structurally damage the concrete and steel I-beams of the flyover.
Pennsylvania State Police said video of the crash and explosion was now part of the investigation.
According to family members, Moody worked for TK Transport in Pennsauken, New Jersey. They said he was an experienced truck driver.
His death was a crushing blow.
SEE ALSO: ‘He was amazing' Cousin recalled a truck driver involved in an Interstate 95 crash in Philly
He's amazing. He was amazing,” said his cousin, Isaac Moody, fighting back tears.
Isaac Moody said his cousin was his best friend.
“I didn't expect this. Nobody expected this,” said Isaac Moody.
Al Newman said he served with Moody in the Pennsylvania National Guard where Moody was a Sergeant and sponsored him to become a Prince Hall Mason.
“No matter what went wrong, Nate always had a smile on his face. He was the kind of guy, even negative things that happened in the military, he would always find funny,” Newman told Action News.
Action Cam 6abc was at the Pennsylvania Task Force One headquarters on the 6600 block of New State Road in the Tacony section of town Monday afternoon when the wreckage of the truck was removed.
Disaster Emergency Proclamation
Governor Shapiro signed a proclamation of emergency after the collapse.
According to a press release from the governor's office, “The Proclamation allows the Commonwealth to rapidly withdraw federal funds and authorizes state agencies to use all available resources to accelerate work and cut red tape to rebuild I-95 as safely and efficiently as possible.” Possible.”
The damaged section of I-95 carries about 160,000 vehicles daily, believed to be the busiest road in Pennsylvania, state officials said.
PennDOT rated the 104-foot range in good condition earlier this year, with another check set for 2025.
Officials say it's rebuilding the highway it could take months.
In California, a similar situation exists with the highways in Oakland. It was replaced in 26 days, said Joseph L. Schofer, retired professor of civil and environmental engineering from Northwestern University.
In Atlanta, an elevated section of Interstate 85 collapsed in a fire, closing a frequently traveled route through the heart of the city in March 2017. It took authorities there 43 days to replace it, Schofer said.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.