After a 53-year-old trucker hauling gasoline near Philadelphia reportedly cashed, I-95 northbound turned into an inferno, leaving it in disrepair. In the aftermath of the tragedy, truckers are reminded of the dangers associated with hauling combustibles.
“The engineering and the inspection of the southbound bridge indicated it’s compromised as a result of the fire. The I-beams are incapable of supporting the traffic, and so that structure has to be removed, and we’ll be starting today,” Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll reportedly said.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) has pledged quick funding to repair the collapsed lanes and reports indicate an entire section of the Interstate was razed and needs to be reconstructed. Truckers who work the primary freight transportation route running the length of the East Coast may need to rethink their routes.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was quick to survey the wreckage and unequivocally pledge federal funding to restore I-95 which handles more than 150,000 vehicles, including upwards of 14,000 big rigs daily.
“Those vehicles are now subject to more than 40 miles of detour, a detour that is mostly non-Interstate highway with more than 60 traffic lights,” a spokesman for the American Trucking Associations reportedly said. “This will add significant cost in time, fuel and delays, so we urge state and federal agencies to target appropriate resources to repairing and replacing this highway as quickly as possible.”
The tragic accident occurred on Sunday, June 11, when Nathaniel “Nate” Moody attempted to negotiate a difficult left-lane curve at the Cottman Ave off-ramp. Officials claim the Army veteran with a spotless driving record lost control of the tanker. He was transporting 8,500 gallons of fuel that ignited after the tanker toppled. Moody, a father of three, was reportedly found dead at the scene and his family later identified his remains.
“My cousin is a hardworking man. Family man,” Alex Moody reportedly said. “We’ve always been cool and tight. He’s very mild-mannered. Calm guy. Really calm person. He gets along with
The initial northbound demolition work was completed within days and construction crews are reportedly expected to tear down southbound lanes as well. Engineers will likely need to review the structural integrity of adjacent I-95 lanes.
Although the bulk of East Coast freight in the area runs on I-295 and the New Jersey Turnpike, a significant number of industrial, manufacturing, and port operations rely on the lost area of I-95. Truckers can anticipate heavy traffic on alternate routes as trucks and passenger vehicles are rerouted.
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