I-95 in Northeast Philadelphia to shift from temporary roadway to permanent stretch
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Monday will mark a huge milestone in the rebuilding of I-95 in Northeast Philadelphia.
Crews will shift three lanes of traffic from a temporary roadway onto a new permanent stretch of the interstate -- the outer lanes -- Monday night. The shift will start with the northbound lanes. Then, on Wednesday, crews will divert the southbound lanes.
It's been nearly five months since a deadly crash and fire brought down the overpass bridge near the Cottman Avenue exit. Crews are ahead of schedule in repairing the highway.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and PennDOT officials call this one of the most impressive projects in the country. The main focus was the completion of I-95 remains a top priority and this project continues to move ahead of schedule.
On June 11, a commercial truck carrying 8,500 gallons of gasoline caught fire after it crashed and flipped near the I-95 Cottam Avenue off-ramp. The crash and fire compromised the highway's structure and caused the northbound lanes to collapse.
The driver, 53-year-old Nathan Moody, died in the accident.
Just 12 days after the crash, crews who worked around the clock had six temporary lanes of traffic ready to go.
Officials spoke on Monday about the importance of getting the project done correctly and quickly was to everyone.
"It was not traditional eight-hour days," PennDOT secretary Michael Carroll said. "It was 12-hour days in many cases, seven days a week many cases in order to get these two new bridges constructed as quickly as possible."
"I think the eyes of the nation have been on this project," Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said, "and I think it gives people that confidence that when we build a project in an emergency situation, it's going to get done quickly and correctly."
In late August, the last of eight 100-foot beams were installed, which meant crews could start building the permanent lanes over Cottman Avenue.
On Monday night, traffic will be shifted from a temporary roadway onto a new, permanent stretch of the highway.
The FHA added that the work was done ahead of schedule every step of the way.
Officials said the entire new structure plus reconstruction of the lower portion of the Cottman Avenue off-ramp is expected to be completed in 2024. They said it's all weather dependent.