Interstate 95, the main highway between the East Coast’s two largest cities, New York and Philadelphia, will remain closed for months after a tanker fire caused a section to collapse, the governor of New York said Sunday. Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro.
An elevated section of the northbound lanes in northeast Philadelphia collapsed, with the tanker truck and whoever was inside trapped under 500 tons of concrete, steel and rubble, around 6:20 a.m., the governor said. at a press conference.
Shapiro called the scene «a remarkably devastating site.»
The corresponding southbound elevated lanes were found to lack structural integrity, leading to the closure of the entire freeway, the governor said.
No deaths or injuries were reported, but first responders had not yet reached the tanker truck or its possible occupants, authorities said. The fire was still burning but otherwise under control, they said.
A disaster declaration will be made Monday, he said, allowing the state to quickly tap federal funds and start rebuilding the highway.
«We expect it to take several months,» the governor said of completion.
Officials urged Philadelphians to avoid the area and plan alternate routes for Monday morning’s commute while drawing up a plan for temporary detours and adding public transportation options.
“I-95, of course, is a critical highway,” the governor said. “It supports our economy and plays an important role in people’s daily lives.”
State Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll said the highway segment carries approximately 160,000 vehicles per day and is most likely the busiest interstate in Pennsylvania.
The Eastern Transportation Coalition, a partnership between 17 states, says the highway and its associated corridor, which stretches from almost the tip of Florida to the Canadian border, carries nearly $200 billion in port-related goods and services. along the route.
Shapiro said the tanker truck was carrying some type of petroleum product.
There were 8,500 gallons of product in the tanker, according to a US Coast Guard spokesman. The military branch sent a boat to the scene to examine the impact on the water, but it appears no gasoline reached the Delaware River.
There was some «shimmer,» an iridescent appearance to the surface of the water, but it seemed confined to a nearby cove, the spokesman said.
All lanes of the highway are closed for a roughly 10-mile stretch between Academy Avenue (exit 32) to the north and the Betsy Ross Bridge (exit 26) to the south, state transportation officials said.
«The highway is gone,» anonymous officials said. NBC Philadelphia.
Runoff from fuel or gas lines from the burning truck has also caused underground explosions, Philadelphia Fire Department Capt. Derrick Bowmer told reporters.
“We will be here for a while,” he said. “We have fire coming out of those sewers.”
A video posted to social media early Sunday captured by a driver appeared to show plumes of black smoke billowing over the road.
Bowmer said officials received a call about an accident at 6:22 a.m., but it wasn’t immediately clear if there were any injuries.
in a tweetPhiladelphia Mayor Jim Kenney told locals to avoid the area and plan alternate travel routes, and thanked first responders For his job.
Shapiro he said in a tweet has been informed by officials and that first responders and transportation officials were on the scene. Shapiro added that he and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis were «coordinating closely» with officials in the state, throughout New Jersey and in the federal government.
«For now, please avoid the area and follow the instructions of first responders on the scene.» Shapiro wrote.
President Joe Biden was briefed on the collapse and has been in contact with Shapiro and the Philadelphia mayor’s office, according to a tweet from White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tweeted that he was «closely monitoring» the situation and coordinating the response with officials.
«I have been in contact with [the Federal Highway Administration] and I have spoken with Governor Shapiro to offer any assistance USDOT can provide to help with recovery and rebuilding.» tweeted.
The National Transportation Safety Board was also monitoring the situation and gathering information.
A spokesman for the Pennsylvania Emergency Agency directed questions to local officials.
A state police spokesperson told NBC News in a statement that the agency is working with Philadelphia police to control and divert traffic.
jay blackman, austin mullen and Doha Madani contributed.