Through remarkable efficiencies from Cal-Trans and the contractor, it reopened in 25 days.

I can practically guarantee you that things won't happen that quickly with PennDOT.

Ugh, so sorry! Every so often there is some sort of big traffic emergency that shuts down the interstate for an entire day. Last summer it was a news station’s helicopter crash on the shoulder of the interstate. 😟

A portion of the Santa Monica Freeway collapsed in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Since this freeway is a major east-west artery in Los Angeles and beyond, repair work was carried on 24/7 – also spurred by an offer for healthy bonuses the earlier the construction was complete.

We were in the area one night, and the amount of electricity they used to flood the area with blinding light must have been staggering. And the noise!

Maire cate, i used to live on 48th st ! 819 s 48thfrom 1967 to 1972. Used to walk the kids to Clark Park.

@bpath - 35W bridge collapsed into the Mississippi - people died. I don’t recall how long it took to replace it.

Ded - You weren't too far from where DH lived but still a nicer area. He was only there for a year - from 1972-1973. It was more like a dorm room - one room with a twin bed, desk, dresser and hot plate plus a bath. His apartment building was across the street from the West Philly H.S. athletic fields. It just about filled the entire block from 48th to 49th and from Spruce to Locust. Eventually it was abandoned, boarded up and became known as Paradise City - a place for squatters and drug users and a rooftop murder.

I'd like to drive by and see it now. Apparently it was bought by developers and is now a pretty nice building.

Maire

Maire, this is what it looks like now:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/iAL6AiQJrK731fMB8

Maire, maybe we walked past each other, who knows. Glad we met again.

It's possible - or shopping at the old Wanamaker's. I used to think the Crystal Tea Room was such a treat.

I love the serendipitious meetings here.

I had posted on the Building a Home forum for years. Most of the regulars there are cranky. However there is one really nice architect who never bashes anyone and only comments if he can be helpful. After a few years I realized he lived in the same town I do.

Turns out he lived 2 streets over and ran by my house every day. Small world. I was so glad to meet him. 😆

This is a nightmare. My son is graduating from Drexel University this week. The timing of this could not have been worse. The university wide ceremony is at Citizens Bank Park (where the Phillies play) on Friday night. It's right off of 95 south of Center City. There's also a big concert in the football stadium next door. The traffic is going to be crazy. I'm not upset that my son elected to not attend the big ceremony. We will be attending the ceremony for his college within Drexel on Wednesday. Venue is off campus. Not sure how much this will impact that but we'll leave plenty early to avoid the stress.

I'm so happy we moved him home last week after his last class was done (seniors don't have finals).

I have not heard of any injuries from this event so hopefully there were none.

What a mess; that is going to be a big PITA to navigate around. I am glad that no one was seriously injured or worse.

Human remains have been found, and the driver is still unaccounted for, per the news within the hour.

Ugh, that's awful. Latest report is driver was identified. So sad.

There's also video of people driving over the overpass just before it collapsed. Terrifying.

https://6abc.com/i-95-collapsed-in-philadelphia-fire-overpass/13371656/

oh how horrible. All along, I kept thinking it was a miracle that no one was hurt in this.... So sorry to read the updates.

Before we moved to Pa close to 5 years ago, we did use 95 to visit our daughter. Since we've moved here, I can't recall traveling on it, but yes it is a major major roadway.

I cannot imagine how long it will take to rebuild. What a mess.

So very sad to hear of the loss of the driver.

News reports say it will affect the supply chain since so many trucks move up and down the east coast along that highway.

jsk, congrats to your son on his graduation from an excellent school.

The 35W bridge was replace in 14 months. It was 3 months faster than planned.

Glass nuggets? Who knew?

https://apnews.com/article/i95-interstate-collapse-philadelphia-buttigieg-269d1c784e2c8e3cdb60b141a549f21c

"Pennsylvania will truck in 2,000 tons of lightweight glass nuggets to help quickly rebuild a collapsed section of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia and crews will work 24 hours a day until they can reopen the critical commercial artery, officials said Wednesday.

Instead of rebuilding the overpass right away, crews will use the recycled glass to fill in the collapsed area to avoid supply-chain delays for other materials, Gov. Josh Shapiro said."

Ive been following the story about filling the gap. ingenious! I think only one lane will be open at a time but its better than nothing i guess.

They fill the gap and then pave on top of it. I hope it works as planned

Small world. When I read the story I thought about what happened in 2002 here in OK. I'm sure you all have heard of the extremely busy I-40. This was a big bridge going across the Arkansas river, and a barge hit it while cars were coming at full speed. Fourteen people died, including a husband and wife from our small town.

Here's the story and a picture

Imagine driving 65-70 mph and this is waiting for you.

Omg, Oakley. That is so tragic. At least on 95it melted slowlyenough that traffic could stop, althoughsome cars drove through a dip in the road as it sunk.

I remember the Mianus Bridge collapse on I-95. So horrible. One guy saw it collapse and managed to stop in time. He tried to stop another vehicle but they went around him to their death. Took place 40 years ago...

There is a live web cam of the repairs.I 95 repairs webcam

Well ded - that is surprisingly addicting. I'm usually doing something on my laptop several times a day and I just realized that I click on that link whenever I open the lid. Last night there was a huge mound of dirt in the middle of the underpass and this morning it's gone.

The glass nugget repair is rather amazing and how fortunate that the plant that produces the material is just down the road.

Hahaha! I tuned in to the web cam and I saw one guy running a machine, 2 guys standing by watching and another group of 7 guys standing around doing nothing. My Dad always used to say any govt construction site, you'll see one guy working and at least 2 guys watching him....

I'll keep tuning in though... I want to see this glass stuff.

I heard a traffic report this morning that a pole fell on a car closing one of the detour streets. 😮😬 I assume that will further complicate just this morning’s commute. 🤞🏼

Oh for Pete's sake! What else can go wrong! Oops...I guess I shouldn't ask!

Traffipocalypse!

Story in the newspaper this morning about how nearby businesses are suffering since people cant get to them. The effects are far reaching.

Wow! This a.m. there was nothing but dirt. Now they've spread what looks like some kind of rubber matting and now it looks like the glass aggregate is starting to be spread. They are moving right along. Thanks ded, that live feed is fascinating.

Annie, I sent that link to DS who is a civil engineer and designs roads & bridges. lol

Checked in this a.m. and the fill is already over 10' high. They're making great progress.

Prototypical Philly guy on the street interview

https://twitter.com/marcusfox29/status/1667914696534507520

Like, dude.

So THAT’S a Philly accent.

Gov. Shapiro just announced 'with confidence' that the temporary reconstruction of I - 95 will be open within 2 weeks with the Feds picking up the tab.

@bpath that is just one Philadelphia accent of several. This is a Northeast Philadelphia accent.

I have to say, I am so totally ( beyond totally) amazed and impressed at the quickness of the solution.

And, yes, I do crack up at the Philly accent.

This is a photo I took in San Diego at a Philly-themed bar:

The one that really gets me is the thing that sails on water, you know, the Bowwwwwt.

I checked in this a.m. and the aggregate is about 3/4 of the way up to the road surface. They're moving right along. Love watching the little bobcat going back and forth to smooth and compact the material...it's almost hypnotizing....I hope not for the driver though!

Also interesting to see how the aggregate is being pumped in via crane. I had no idea they could do that. I pictured acres of dump trucks dumping the material. Who knew?

Collapsed section of I-95 reopens today.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/06/23/i-95-bridge-reopening-friday/70349844007/

Amazing what people can do when they want/need to. I'm very impressed they were able to do this so quickly. Yes, it's temporary while they build the permanent structure, but still.

Now if only they could do the other work on I-95 so quickly! I've been going back and forth to Philly for the last 5 years while my son was in college there and the construction was never ending.

Kudos to everyone involved in this.

I was listening to Smerconish today and he was thinking that the presence of the camera improved productivity among the workers...might be.

IAC, it was quite an achievement, that glass aggregate looks very interesting...I wonder if it has residential applications. I'm glad it's open and moving again. I suspect the complete restoration with new bridges etc. will take a LOT longer.

That is incredible, great start on the fix.

Now if they can just fix the bleeping potholes....

I don't know if this will post- but I saw it on FB and thought it was perfect.

philly phans Rocky theme reopening

Perfect! Couldn't be better.

Traffic flowing this morning. I hope the permanent repairs go as smoothly.

WTG they were able to get so much done so quickly. Congrats to the Governor and all the other people involved.