PennDOT announced today the completion of the permanent repairs to I-95 in northeast Philadelphia, less than a year after a fire last June caused the roadway to collapse.

Weather permitting, all lanes on I-95 in the area will be open to traffic by 5:00am Friday morning, as well as one lane on the newly constructed ramp from northbound I-95 to Cottman Avenue, just in time for holiday weekend travel.

A temporary roadway with six lanes of traffic opened on June 23, 2023, only 12 days after the initial fire and collapse. 

The new bridge and ramp replace the ones that were destroyed in the tanker truck crash and fire.

“Today serves as another example to all that Pennsylvania can do big things,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said. “Thanks to the dedication of the workers and incredible coordination between the Shapiro Administration, our federal partners, and the City of Philadelphia, traffic flowed freely on I-95 throughout construction and we were able to restore the roadway to full capacity less than a year after the tragic fire and collapse.”

When both lanes of the northbound ramp to Cottman Avenue are complete, it will feature enhanced traffic safety measures such as new signage and High Friction Surface Treatment (HFST), a treatment added to the top of a road surface that creates more friction on the pavement. Data shows that the treatment decreases fatal and injury crashes where it is installed.

6ABC’s video coverage can be found below:

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Screengrab: 6ABC