I-95 Freeway Closure in Northeast Entrance of Philadelphia Due to Tank Truck Fire

A major highway

The I-95 freeway is a major highway on the east coast of the United States. Its closure at the northeast entrance to Philadelphia, a city of some 1.5 million people, promises to severely disrupt traffic to and from New York. Its more than 3000 kilometers connect the State of Maine, in the extreme northeast of the country, to Miami, the largest city in Florida, in the Southeast.

“This is a major artery for people and goods, and its closure will have significant consequences for the city and region until reconstruction is complete,” tweeted US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The Minister specified that the vehicle at the origin of the fire was a tank truck and thanked the firefighters and other rescuers who intervened.

The replacement of the damaged section could take weeks and Pete Buttigieg warned users, saying he expected a “significant impact on regional traffic”. “I-95 will be affected for a long, long time,” Philadelphia Services General Manager Tumar Alexander said. The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“City and state departments are working to address the impact on area residents and travelers affected by the road closure,” the city spokeswoman said. Sarah Peterson.

US President Joe Biden has been informed of the situation and his teams are in contact with local authorities to provide them with assistance, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said on Twitter.

Residents told local media they heard several explosions, but no casualties have been reported so far. The fire was brought under control in the morning and the expressway closed by the police in both directions in the immediate vicinity of the accident, said the city spokeswoman.