14 June 2023- The Shapiro Administration, the City of Philadelphia, and federal partners continue to respond to the partial collapse of Interstate 95 between Exits 30 and 32 in Philadelphia. The interstate remains closed in both directions in this area. All levels of government continue to coordinate efforts to repair and reopen the roadway safely and as efficiently as possible.
Today at 11:00am, Governor Shapiro, Secretary of Transportation Mike Carroll, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt, contractors, members of the Philadelphia Building Trades and other officials will provide an update on the coordinated response to the I-95 collapse from state, local, and federal partners. The press conference will be streamed on pacast.com/live/gov.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg traveled to Philadelphia to visit the incident site. Secretary Buttigieg and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll surveyed the damage and provided an update on the speedy removal of debris from the site and efforts to rebuild I-95 safely and as efficiently as possible. Governor Shapiro spoke to Secretary Buttigieg over the phone once again today to update him on the Administration’s progress.
Today, Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis led a required meeting of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council to review the Proclamation of Disaster Emergency signed yesterday by Governor Shapiro. This is the first proclamation signed by Governor Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Davis’s first time leading the council.
The Governor’s proclamation makes $7 million of state funds immediately available for the reconstruction of the roadway and authorizes the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Transportation, and the Pennsylvania State Police to use all available resources and personnel, as necessary. The proclamation also cuts red tape, waiving bidding and contracting procedures, as well as other formalities normally prescribed by law.
According to PennDOT, demolition is underway. The bridge deck was removed today and other bridge-component removal is underway while debris is being removed from underneath the bridge. An update on the next steps in the reconstruction process will be shared tomorrow. Crews will work through the night to ensure that demolition and reconstruction occurs quickly and efficiently, and that the roadway will reopen as soon as possible.
