Fiery crash closes I-95 (for weeks?)

Greenwich Time ^

[BikePacker]

Tanker explodes in Bridgeport; road could be shut for weeks

BRIDGEPORT -- The crash of a fuel oil tanker sparked a major fire on an elevated section of Interstate 95 last night, closing both lanes for this morning's commute - and likely for weeks to come.

The driver of the truck suffered minor injuries and appeared to be the only person who required medical attention. He was identified early today as Gilbert Robinson, 33, of Naugatuck. He was treated at Bridgeport Hospital and released.

"Rush hour is going to be a nightmare," said Gov. John Rowland, who was flown by helicopter to the scene last night. The highway is a crucial artery through the state and connects New York to Connecticut and the rest of New England.

State engineers immediately began assessing the damage, and local and state officials were developing a plan early this morning to guide commuters to alternate routes.

[Fierce Allegiance]

You are too far south to be affected by this, right?

[BlazingArizona]

It's going to be several weeks at least according to local radio news.

When a section of I-5 running through the San Fernando Valley (north of Los Angeles) was destroyed in 1971, an 8-lane detour was blasted through adjoining neighborhoods (which were destroyed anyway) within a week. In LA, NOTHING gets in the way of traffic.

[dennisw]

My strategy would be to have all the debris cleared by Monday so I-95 traffic is not impeded. Then go to work on repairing the overpass. With some repairs done late at night when I95 would be shut off for some repair procedures. GWBush could score by send $10 million in emergency funds for repairs

I would also expedite all repairs the way it was done on California freeways after their earthquake 10 years ago.

[the OlLine Rebel]

What is the date/time on this article? Nothing there.

I doubt this was terror.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Traffic cam

[the OlLine Rebel]

The pix in 17 doesn't look like a curved bridge or like it's over the harbor?

[Fierce Allegiance]

That is a sag in the gridge caused by the heat of the fuel fire.

[freeperfromnj]

The story was from yesterday - not sure what time it was posted on their site. You have to admit, if the warning came before the accident, it would be quite a coincidence.

http://www.wfsb.com

[Wright is right!]

"Portions of the Santa Monica Freeway collapsed in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. It was rebuilt in only 12 weeks (construction on a 24/7 basis)"

CalTrans was bright enough to offer a $250,000 per day incentive to the contractor to finish ahead of schedule. So, instead of paying $$$$ in overtime, he hired three complete shifts so he could run around the clock. He finished so far ahead of time that the incentives more than made up for the costs of the extra shifts.

Oklahoma did the same thing when a river barge took out a bridge on I-40 near Sallisaw. First estimates were that the bridge would easily take over a year to replace. But the Okies offered that same kind of incentive to the contractor - hefty bonuses for each day early.

The contractor employed some unusual techniques to get the job done in only FOUR MONTHS. All of the rebar work, normally a tedious labor-intensive process, was done off-site so work could begin on that portion way earlier than normal - not having to wait for the supports and beams to be in place. Once the beams were up, completed rebar sections were simply set in place and concrete was poured.

The contractor made out and the state of Oklahoma recouped the bonuses many times over in preventing a loss of revenue from motorists having to detour around the state.

Michael

[Puppage]

It's about 3 miles from me. I take the Merritt, but my wife takes 95. Even though we're still 1 exit away from the one's that are closed, EVERYONE is being redirected through town, so it's the Merritt for her, too.

[the OlLine Rebel]

"Gil Robinson" hit something wrong on a nasty stretch of 95 and his tanker blew up, killing no1 and giving just him a few scrapes? "Coincidence", I say! ;-)

[the OlLine Rebel]

Some1 else said the bridge is curved (ie., right or left turn); this doesn't look like it's the bridge they're talking about.

[Cultural Jihad]

But it seems as a society if we want to rebuild part of I-95 really fast we should be able to do it.

Indeed we are so able already.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Yup, I figured the Merritt's probably the choice! ;-)

[6ppc]

Happened here in Birmingham at our Malfunction Junction. Took three or four months. They had to virtually rebuild the bridge.

[SGCOS]

Why can't a simple ramp be put in and have traffic 'jump' the damaged section?

&^)

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

No mention as to the cause of the accident. If this tanker driver is at fault, there should be hell to pay.

I remember when a tanker carrying boiling tar crashed on the 605 in LA, and they had to shut down the freeway for days while the taxpayers paid to have it cleaned up. The driver of the truck was at fault and I believe they went after the company to recoup costs.

[freeperfromnj]

"Gil Robinson" hit something wrong on a nasty stretch of 95 and his tanker blew up, killing no1 and giving just him a few scrapes? "Coincidence", I say!

Could be. The warning in the article sounds more like they were concerned with the infrastructure.

[Fierce Allegiance]

The bridge in Bridgeport is not curved horizontally, but vertically (it's sagging a couple feet).

The pic in #17 is the bridge in question. It is not a long span. The traffic cam shot i posted is the vicinity, not exactly the bridge that got cooked.

[whattajoke]

Just my luck... there was a several-days long tire fire under I-95 in Philly when I lived there (and had to travel it) and now I'm in CT and this happens!

Fortunately, I don't have to drive this section; which is a nightmare on a regular day. I can't imagine what it's like now and for the next several weeks! Ugh.