I-95 still closed in Norwalk, Connecticut after tanker fire. Watch as the bridge demolition begins.
Update 5/5/24: All lanes reopened Sunday on I-95 in Norwalk, Connecticut
NORWALK, Conn. -- The I-95 overpass in Norwalk, Connecticut that was compromised when a tanker truck crashed and burst into flames is being demolished, a process that will take all weekend, according to state officials.
The vital stretch of I-95 between New York City and Boston is not expected to reopen until Monday morning at the earliest. It's been shut down in both directions since the fiery crash happened around dawn Thursday.
A live stream of the demolition is available here.
"The bridge is found to be incredibly unstable and here we are a little more than 24 hours later and that bridge is gonna be down very soon," said Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, who visited the site Friday.
"Where we are today is remarkably further than I thought we would be when this first happened," Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling said.
Progress is being made, but the damage was so extensive that the cost to repair and reopen could exceed $20 million. Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal promised federal funds would cover the tab.
Meanwhile, the governor continued urging drivers to avoid the area.
"My only advice to you, because it was pretty choppy getting down here, is stay away. Stay away from this area for at least another 72 hours. Take the train, stay home, I think you're gonna save yourself a lot of stress," Lamont said during an update on the I-95 shutdown.
I-95 closure will last all weekend
Thirty hours after smoke an flames roasted the Fairfield Avenue overpass, sparks flew as workers removed the metal fence on the bridge and the ground shook as a jackhammer mounted on an excavator bit through the concrete.
The process of taking it down will take all weekend. In the meantime, drivers are spending hours in traffic as they detour around the scene.
"It normally would take me probably between 25, 30 minutes, and now it just took me, because of the accident and everything because everyone's trying to get on the road, take me probably one hour and a half, two hours, just to get here," said Benny Castellanos.
Many of the delayed drivers are truckers like Rob Nadeau, trying to make time-sensitive deliveries. The closed stretch of I-95 usually handles 160,000 vehicles per day.
"Two and a half hours!" said Nadeau, waiting in traffic.
Even after the highway reopens, Fairfield Avenue will be closed for at least a year while the overpass is replaced.
"It is what it is. We have to live with it. It's not ideal, but we understand that," Rilling said.
Watch video from Chopper 2 over the demolition early Friday morning.
Where is I-95 closed?
The crash happened on the southbound side of the interstate in Norwalk, between Exits 15 and 14, but both sides remain shut down. Southbound traffic is being diverted off Exit 15 toward Route 7. Northbound lanes are closed between Exits 14 and 15.
Officials said expect more traffic on the Merritt Parkway while I-95 is shut down. Passenger cars are allowed on the Merritt, but trucks are not.
I-84 is an option for all drivers traveling through Connecticut. The state DOT said commercial vehicles should go this way instead of I-95.
Use this map to check the current traffic on Connecticut highways.
For commuters, Metro-North is running additional trains on the New Haven Line while I-95 is closed.
"I think the test is probably gonna be Monday and Tuesday, and then also over the weekend. The Yankees are in town, so we might see additional ridership associated with the Yankees game tomorrow, but we think we are ready with the additional trains," Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi said.
Norwalk businesses take a hit
The traffic mess is impacting many small businesses along the crowded detour routes.
Zack Lara owns a barbershop on U.S. Route 1, which runs parallel to the closed stretch of I-95.
"The customers are not even coming inside the business at this point. I believe that it's going to be like that into Monday," said Lara.
John Nealon said business at his pizzeria is down significantly, especially the lunch crowd, since the crash.
"Tough to make that turn coming across the street. It's tough for delivery drivers. Uber, DoorDash, those guys have kind of relocated to some towns where it's a little more traffic-friendly right now," said Nealon.
Sen. Blumenthal says he's looking into loans that could be available for business owners.