Vehicles crossed the newly reconstructed Interstate 95 bridge in Philadelphia on Friday for the first time since the bridge collapsed in a fatal accident.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D), Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and other state officials spoke at a morning press conference hours before the bridge reopened at noon – just 12 days after it collapsed.
Shapiro promised that the collapsed portion of I-95 can be reopened inside 2 weeks, and he kept his promise.
“They said it couldn’t be done,” said Shapiro.
“As I stood here 12 days ago, I actually have to say there was a pessimism in the air – one that I think has lingered in this city and community for much too long. And today all of us proved them improper together here.”
Officials reopened six temporary lanes on I-95 after a deadly tanker truck fire caused an overpass to collapse on June 11.
Truck driver Nathan Moody, 53, died in the accident.
The Shapiro administration worked closely with state, local, and federal governments to remove the debris and rebuild the roadway.
![Employees at Buckley & Co. they cheer as Interstate 95 reopens](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000013116591.jpg?w=1024)
President Biden toured the collapse site last weekend and announced that rebuilding I-95 was his administration’s top infrastructure priority.
“So far as I do know, there isn’t a major project in the country immediately,” Biden said Saturday.
All the pieces it’s essential to learn about the Philadelphia I-95 Viaduct Collapse
A heavily traveled section of I-95 collapsed Sunday in Philadelphia after a tanker truck burst into flames beneath it, police said.
The collapse got here after a tanker truck carrying 8,500 gallons of gas to local Wawa did not turn and flipped over on its side, sparking a massive fire, officials said on Monday.
The freeway crash led to the closure of all lanes of the Interstate between the Woodhaven Road exits in Northeast Philadelphia and Aramingo Avenue in the Port Richmond neighborhood.
Philadelphia Fire Captain Derrick Bowmer said the burning truck also led to an explosion underground, with flames coming from blown hatches.
Human stays were recovered from the rubble on Monday, and officials have yet to announce the identity of the victim.
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The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, the Biden Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the City of Philadelphia, and union contractors worked together to reopen the interstate.
“The people in the construction industry are the real heroes here – they built it skillfully and quickly, and I’m eternally grateful for his or her dedication,” he said. Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Mike Carroll.
“PennDOT and our team and the Buckley team will proceed our efforts to construct the facility on each side of this structure in an effort to bring I-95 back to full capability.”
![Governor Josh Shapiro](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000013110939.jpg?w=1024)
A everlasting bridge is under construction over Cottman Ave where a temporary roadway has been installed.
“Because of the tenacity and determination of operations engineers, laborers, carpenters, carpenters, drivers, and plenty of other proud union employees working 24/7 shifts, I-95 is reopening. And it’s ahead of schedule,” Biden said on Friday.
“This emergency repair is 100% federally funded and all approvals were issued as quickly as possible. We also dispatched officials from the US Department of Transportation to the crash site inside hours to expedite operations. We prove that after we work together, there’s nothing we will not do.”
The Philadelphia Flyers, Eagles, Phillies, 76ers and union organizations made a collective donation of $50,000 to construct a trust fund for Nathan Moody’s daughter.