MENU
SEARCHAfter being closed to traffic for 12 days, the damaged section of Interstate 95 through Philadelphia reopened Friday. A tanker truck fire beneath the interstate on June 11 caused one bridge to collapse and left another heavily damaged.
The engine company that was the first on the scene the day of the roadway collapse was also the first to pass over the reconstructed road when it opened.
Photo: PennDOT
After being closed to traffic for 12 days, the damaged section of Interstate 95 through Philadelphia reopened Friday. A tanker truck fire beneath the interstate on June 11 caused one bridge to collapse and left another heavily damaged.
Federal, state, and local entities combined to push for reopening the stretch of the interstate as quickly as possible by backfilling the area which had collapsed. New bridges are to be built at a later date, according to state authorities.
“Over the past 12 days, the eyes of the nation have been on Pennsylvania. We showed them what our grit and our determination are all about,” said Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro prior to opening the roadway. “We showed them good government in action, and this is what we can do when all levels of government come together to get the job done.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation provided a page with a 24/7 video feed to keep people updated on the progress and more recently shared a video showing timelapse images of the demolition and repairs.
The governor explained how teamwork made the reopening possible, pointing to the local building trades, the local transit authority for adding capacity while the road was out of service, local restaurants for helping feed workers, and even Ponoco Raceway for providing jet driers to ensure the new roadway stayed dry so striping could be painted.
“The building trades folks behind me and the folks to my right, they are the real heroes here. They constructed this in a skillful and speedy way and I'm eternally grateful for their dedication,” said Mike Carroll, Pennsylvania secretary of transportation.
Carroll also urged motorists to use caution as they pass along the repaired stretch of road, pointing out that the lanes are 11 feet wide, a little narrower than normal.
“I know everybody goes fast, sometimes I do too. But the reality is I hope everybody can just go through this at a safe speed and keep each other safe,” added Carroll.
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, trucks carry millions of tons of freight and billions in dollar-value through the region annually. In 2021, trucks carried 21 million tons of freight worth $104 billion between major goods-producing and consuming areas to the north and south of the Philadelphia region.
When the unexpected happens, how you react to, and deal with operational blind spots is critical. Here’s how to keep you recovery on track, when nothing is normal.
Read More →
As fleets adopt artificial intelligence for routing, maintenance, and load matching, new security risks are emerging. Learn where the vulnerabilities are and how to put the right controls in place.
Read More →
The long-awaited registration system promises a single portal — and tighter fraud controls.
Read More →
CargoNet reports fewer supply chain crime events to start 2026. But losses hold steady as organized crime shifts tactics toward impersonation schemes and high-value goods.
Read More →
Heavy Duty Trucking is searching for forward-looking leaders at trucking fleets as nominations for HDT’s Truck Fleet Innovators 2026. Deadline is May 15.
Read More →
Cargo theft rings plant operatives as drivers inside legitimate, fully vetted carriers, then execute coordinated thefts that look like a traditional straight theft from the outside.
Read More →
A modest sequential increase capped the strongest quarterly performance in years, signaling continued freight momentum in early 2026.
Read More →
More than 300 carriers across 26 states have been sent to collections as the Ohio Turnpike cracks down on toll evasion and delinquent payments.
Read More →
The American Transportation Research Institute will examine driver coaching, regulatory impacts — including the "Beyond Compliance" concept —and weather disruptions that shape trucking operations.
Read More →
Fleet Advantage's Brian Antonellis says it's time for fleets to get back to the fundamentals of good maintenance practices. And that includes replacing older, inefficient equipment.
Read More →
