Philadelphia can’t seem to catch a break! Already dealing with the poor air quality and smoky smell, the Philly residents woke up to commute nightmares.
On 11th June, a commotion erupted as a hefty portion of the I-95 bridge collapsed. What caused an efficient infrastructure to malfunction after decades of service? Let us navigate Sunday morning.
I-95 Philadelphia Collapses
Time: 6:20 a.m. Location: North East Philadelphia.
During the early hours, officials reported fire from underneath the I-95 bridge. Firefighters were immediately alerted after the rising smoke obscured the interstate.
After about an hour, people reported a loud thud around the area. The bridge collapsed at around 8 a.m. in the morning. The state Transportation Department issued an immediate statement to shut down the lanes.
What Was The Cause Of I-95 Collapse?
Disclaimer: The following events are still under investigation. These are the reports from the site.
A tanker truck was moving along the underpass of the interstate bridge. The 8500-gallon tanker suddenly caught on fire. According to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official statement, the tank was supposedly carrying “a petroleum product.”
With a surplus amount of combustible fluids, the fire spread at an accelerated time while being concentrated in one specific area. This caused the steel grids on the bridge to gradually melt.
As per experts’ study, the metal used in these grids has a melting point above 2500 degrees Fahrenheit. However, as mentioned before, the intensity of fire progressively added to the heat temperatures on the surface area. As a result, the metal started losing its strength.
For reference—
At 750 degrees Fahrenheit: 20% loss in metal strength.
At 1000 degrees Fahrenheit: 50% loss in metal strength.
Derek Bowmer, battalion chief for the Philadelphia Fire Department, explained the incident–
“It looked like we had a lot of heat and heavy fire underneath the underpass.”
He further elaborated on the cause of the explosions around the collapse–
“Runoff of maybe some fuel or gas lines that could have been compromised by the accident. We have fire coming out of those manholes.”
Where Is I-95? I-95 Collapse Location?
Interstate 95, the main north-south Interstate Highway, runs along the East Coast of the United States. It serves areas from Florida to Maine. The entire bridge stretches across 1919.74 miles. The exact location of the collapse is along Cottman Avenue– an exit ramp from I-95 North.
Impact Of The I-95 Bridge Collapse
The State Transportation Officials have issued a complete shutdown of the highway for 10 miles between Academy Avenue (exit 32) to the north and the Betsy Ross Bridge (exit 26) to the south.
During the prime hours of commute, people have already started struggling with traffic.
Philadelphia was already facing hazards of contaminated water due to the recent leak of an estimated 8000 gallons of water-based latex finishing solution leaked from the Trinseo Altuglas chemical facility in Bucks County into the Delaware River.
For precautionary measures, the state has also probed for an investigation into whether this gasoline tank might add to this contamination. However, upon inspection, the Coast Guard has issued a statement–
“A station Philadelphia 29-foot boat was launched to the scene to observe any pollution to the waterways. They reported that there is a sheen on the water, but it seems to be confined to the cove. The substance is gasoline, and the tanker has a potential to spill 8500 gallons. However, it has been reported to us that clean up efforts are mainly shore side, meaning on land.”
Considering long-term ramifications, the I-95 bridge would take months to reconstruct.
Mike Carroll, the Pennsylvania Dept of Transportation Secretary, has suggested that 160000 vehicles take this bridge for the commute. This collapse would significantly lead to congestion in other intersections.
What Are The Steps Taken After The I-95 Bridge Collapse?
The state is arranging detour plans for the commuters. However, it is advised that you get a headstart on your journey, considering the increased traffic for the next few months.
Also, The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is extending its services for the next 48 hours with high frequency for public buses.
The sixth largest public transportation agency in the US said in a statement–
“In order to accommodate travel through the city and region following the I-95 collapse, SEPTA will provide added capacity and Service. on the Trenton, West Trenton and Fox Chase Lines.”
The state is determined to revive the significant infrastructure as soon as possible.
What do you think of this case? Do you think that it will affect your commute drastically? What are your opinions on the SEPTA services? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.