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I-95 in Philadelphia is now open! [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-06-23

Just 12 days after the horrible tanker fire in North Philadelphia, which caused the collapse of a section of I-95 and the closure of lanes on both sides, I-95 is officially open today!

For 12 days, the Democratic leadership in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and Washington, and engineers and Union workers rolled up their sleeves and worked day and night to put together a clever solution to fix the broken segment. No gimmicks, no finger-pointing, no excuses — just plain old American ingenuity, hard work and Democratic leadership. Bravo!

x At a Friday morning news conference, Gov. Josh Shapiro hailed the opening of a temporary six-lane roadway over I-95 as a victory, moments before traffic once again began flowing for the first time in 12 days.



🔗https://t.co/vYCWa83omQ pic.twitter.com/Ij6ntcVO2c — The Philadelphia Inquirer (@PhillyInquirer) June 23, 2023

Who crossed the repaired section first? The Philly mascots on a fire truck!

x I-95 is Reopened! Kicked off by Philly Fire & our team mascots @6abc pic.twitter.com/Ur084jHITZ — Maggie Kent (@MaggieKent6abc) June 23, 2023

Here is time-lapse video of the repair job. Magnificent!

x They said it couldn’t be done.



There was a pessimism in the air — one that’s lingered over our Commonwealth for too long.



Today, we proved them wrong.



12 Days. I-95 is open. pic.twitter.com/IsqntR0hC4 — Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) June 23, 2023

Link to webcam: pacast.com/…

This is how the damaged section was repaired in record time. Instead of rebuilding the bridge, the section below the bridge was filled up with 2,000 tons of lightweight glass nuggets. The exit ramp itself was blocked, while the road was rebuilt on top.

The bridge itself will be rebuilt over the next few months and the exit ramp will be restored.

Sec. Buttigieg explains -

x How is I-95 near Philly being reopened so quickly?



Secretary Pete Buttigieg explains: pic.twitter.com/wTCmG7P3jp — Nerdy Pursuit (@nerdypursuit) June 21, 2023

This is a rendering of the site made during the start of the repair work. Today, it is done.

Sec. Buttigieg was engaged from the day of the collapse.

x Thanks to the non-stop efforts of crews on the ground, I-95 is back!



I applaud PennDOT and @GovernorShapiro who pushed to get traffic moving again here within just a few weeks. USDOT will continue to be there with the funding and support until permanent replacement is complete. https://t.co/0lT8SQHvQY — Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) June 23, 2023

And so was President Biden, while he was knee-deep doing his other Presidential duties. Yup, Biden can walk and chew gum at the same time.

x “I didn’t do it, we did it,” Gov. Josh Shapiro told President Joe Biden in a phone call shared with reporters Friday, thanking the president for his involvement in the I-95 reopening efforts.



“Every step of the way, you were checking in with us.”



🔗https://t.co/vYCWa83omQ pic.twitter.com/Jti7Ew0Nhi — The Philadelphia Inquirer (@PhillyInquirer) June 23, 2023

“Moving heaven and earth” — literally.

x STATEMENT from @POTUS on reopening I-95:



"This emergency repair is 100% federally funded and all approvals were given as quick as possible. We also deployed officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation to the crash site within hours – to help fast-track the effort." pic.twitter.com/rRO5zpS52s — Herbie Ziskend (@HerbieZiskend46) June 23, 2023

Thanks Biden.

x I made clear that my Administration would move heaven and earth to reopen I-95.



Thanks to Governor Shapiro, federal and state actors, and the grit and determination of union workers doing shifts around the clock, I-95 is reopening.



And it’s ahead of schedule. https://t.co/ECspVTejKy — President Biden (@POTUS) June 23, 2023

Let’s make sure people around the country hear of this, that they understand the difference between Democratic vs Republican leadership, that they understand that Democrats build while Republicans destroy.

Story on the day of the I-95 section collapse — Truck fire underneath overpass causes collapse of I-95 section in NE Philadelphia

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