Best detours to avoid Philadelphia I-95 bridge collapse road closure

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- If you take Interstate 95 through the Philadelphia area, you're going to need an alternate route after a major portion collapsed after sources said a fuel tanker truck caught fire underneath an overpass. The southbound side of the interstate was also compromised in the fire and this portion of the highway will be inaccessible for months, officials said.

I-95 is a main arterial roadway in the U.S. that goes north and south along the East Coast. On average, 160,000 vehicles use the highway a day to go through the Philadelphia area, according to PennDOT Secretary of Transportation Mike Carroll. 

RELATED: "Have a plan, be patient" after I-95 collapse, AAA says

A stretch of I-95 is closed in both directions between Cottman Ave (Exit 30) and Aramingo Avenue (Exit 26) after officials said the fuel tanker went up in flames while on Princeton Avenue near the I-95 Cottman Avenue off-ramp on June 11, 2023. 

CBS News Traffic Reporter Chandler Lutz said this is going to cause major traffic issues for the foreseeable future and you are going to need to plan ahead.   

Going around I-95 collapse

Route 1, or Roosevelt Boulevard, is the best option to avoid the area if you're traveling north or south, depending on your destination.

Those who are planning to travel on I-95 from the south should consider the Delaware Memorial Bridge or New Jersey Turnpike Connector Bridge. 

Here are detour routes if you want to completely avoid I-95 north and south, according to PennDOT:    

• I-95 Southbound: Route 63 West (Woodhaven Road), U.S. 1 South, 76 East, 676 East
• I-95 Northbound: I-676 West, I-76 West, U.S. 1 North to Route 63 East (Woodhaven Road) 

Detour route to exit I-95 and re-enter

Drivers going southbound on I-95 must exit the highway at Cottman Avenue and at the end of the ramp, take a right on Bleigh Street.

Follow Bleigh Street to State Road and make a left onto State Road. Take State Road to Longshore Avenue - then you can get back on I-95 at State Road and Longshore Avenue.

If you are heading northbound drivers must exit I-95 at Aramingo Avenue, and turn left onto Aramingo.

Then, follow Aramingo Avenue to Tacony Street and make a right. Take Tacony Street north around the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge loop to New State Road and continue heading north.

New State Road will bring you to Milnor Street, and from there you can get back on I-95 northbound.

Traveling locally

If you're traveling locally, you can take Levick Street, Torresdale or Frankford Avenues to go around the closed I-95 corridor. 

Residents in the area of the collapse can follow updates from PennDOT on their website. 

Traveling to/from New Jersey

For those traveling to New Jersey, you should consider the New Jersey Turnpike, I-295 or Route 130. The Betsy Ross Bridge (Exit 26) and Ben Franklin Bridge are also options. However, if you're traveling from the Besty Ross to I-95 South, that area is blocked off.

Tumar Alexander, from the City of Philadelphia Managing Director's Office, said it will be a long time to address this roadway collapse.      

Local, state and federal officials said they are all working together to assess the damage before they can work to repair the roadway. 

Public transportation

SEPTA has put in place a service plan to support transportation needs in the Philly area until further notice. 

The transportation agency is also evaluating options for a longer-term service plan that will be needed for the repairs on I-95.

The transportation service said it will increase capacity on the Trenton, West Trenton and Fox Chase Regional Rail Lines by adding rail cars to scheduled peak service trains. The agency also said they are bolstering staff to ensure reliable and frequent service is available across transit routes.

SEPTA said trains will operate every six minutes during peak hours on the Market-Frankford Line. Some bus routes are currently being detoured due to the collapse.  

Extra Trenton Line Service

• AM: 6:40 AM and 8:03 AM from Trenton, along with 8:25 AM from Holmesburg Junction
• PM: Trains will run at 3:05 PM from Suburban Station to Holmesburg Junction, along with 4:30 PM and 5:20 PM to Trenton
• These trains are additions to regularly scheduled trips

Other Regional Rail Service

• SEPTA will increase capacity on the Trenton, West Trenton and Fox Chase Regional Rail Lines by adding rail cars to scheduled peak service trains. This means adding rail cars to regularly scheduled trains.
• Parking continues to be free at Regional Rail Stations and we will be deploying Operations personnel and ambassadors to assist customers Philadelphia Parking Authority parking lots near SEPTA stations at Fern Rock, Torresdale, and Fox Chase will also be free

Market-Frankford Line

• Trains will operate every 6 minutes during peak hours
• Parking (500 spaces) continues to be free at Frankford Transportation Center

Bus Routes

• Bus Routes 70, 78, & 84 will be detoured until further notice due to the I-95 bridge collapse.

SEPTA is asking riders to check their app or website for the latest information on specific bus routes. 

Parking to ride SEPTA?

There is free parking available at all Regional Rail stations, the Frankford Transportation Center and these Philadelphia Parking Authority lots near SEPTA stations:  

Complimentary parking at Philadelphia Parking Authority-operated lots at SEPTA train stations will be available until further notice: 

• Fern Rock Rail Station Lot - 10th Street & Nedro Avenue
• Fox Chase Rail Station Lot - 500 Rhawn Street
• Torresdale Rail Station Lot - 4900 Grant Avenue

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