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Fiery crash closes I-95 (for weeks?)
Greenwich Time ^

Posted on 03/26/2004 7:56:45 AM PST by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at greenwichtime.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bridgecrash; i95; tankercrash; truckexplosions
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To: BluH2o
The area is nasty, especially with the construction going on, but the fire was only on a short span, not the big long section.
41 posted on 03/26/2004 8:59:17 AM PST by Fierce Allegiance
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To: johnny7
It will take time to order the new steel, which will probably have to come from overseas.
42 posted on 03/26/2004 9:00:10 AM PST by RightWhale (Theorems link concepts; proofs establish links)
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To: freeperfromnj; BikePacker
Coincidence???

I can't figure out if people who don't make the link between the startling terrorist alert YESTERDAY for this highway and this morning's massive accident are either 1) professional dissemblers, who want us to look the other way; 2) intel who purposely obscure the terrorist connection so as to minimize a recurrence; or 3) members of the somnabulant public in general.

Somebody should do a work-up on the number of "tanker accidents" since 9/11.

I think the Administration walks a finer line than anyone can imagine. And somehow this should be pointed out to dangerous idiots like Kerry and his Kartoon Kapers.

43 posted on 03/26/2004 9:06:21 AM PST by Dr. Eckleburg (There are very few shades of gray.)
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To: the OlLine Rebel
The pix in 17 doesn't look like a curved bridge or like it's over the harbor?

You're right ... I thought the fire occurred further up on the span ... the accident site is close by on a portion of the roadway that leads up and onto the larger bridge.

44 posted on 03/26/2004 9:07:42 AM PST by BluH2o
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To: CROSSHIGHWAYMAN
I remember the 1983 collapse. I drove over the rebuilt temporary bridge the first day it was open.
45 posted on 03/26/2004 9:12:16 AM PST by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestus globus, inflammare animos)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg
I can't figure it out either. The alert was quite specific as to location.
46 posted on 03/26/2004 9:16:30 AM PST by freeperfromnj
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To: Dr. Eckleburg
I can't figure out if people who don't make the link between the startling terrorist alert YESTERDAY for this highway and this morning's massive accident are either 1) professional dissemblers, who want us to look the other way; 2) intel who purposely obscure the terrorist connection so as to minimize a recurrence; or 3) members of the somnabulant public in general.

How about "4) People who aren't pants-wetting panic-mongers?"

There are about a million more effective things to do with a tanker full of gasoline terror-wise than cause an accident where no one gets hurt that inconveniences a highway for a while.

Somebody should do a work-up on the number of "tanker accidents" since 9/11.

I'm sure it will turn out to be a similar number to the number of tanker accidents prior to 9/11...a variety have been mentioned in this thread already. It amazes me there aren't more of them, quite frankly, rather than surprised at how many there are.

The problem is one needs to make the effort to conduct a search OUTSIDE of FR....people are more likely to post tanker accidents here recently than before 9/11, I suspect, and of course people had no motivation to CATALOGUE tanker accidents prior to 9/11.

Back when people were getting their panties in a bunch over industrial fires and accidents last year, I think, I actually did find a website cataloging industrial fires and accidents, and the rate since 9/11 was identical to the rate prior to 9/11.

47 posted on 03/26/2004 9:17:33 AM PST by John H K
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To: Dr. Eckleburg
Wow... I didn't even hear about that.

Curiouser, and curiouser:

BRIDGEPORT -- A terror threat targets Connecticut's busiest stretch of highway, the Interstate-95 corridor in Bridgeport. State police began stepping up security in the area Thursday.

The response is a coordinated effort between local and state police, the Coast Guard, and Homeland Security.

People taking the port Jefferson ferry to long island underwent police checks of vehicles at the docks today.

One of the more visible signs of the increased security measures put into place after authorities received information that Bridgeport could be targeted.

"It's nerve-wracking .. .you see police, and all that's going on, you often wonder," said Long Island resident Timothy Smith.

"What we've done now because of the alerts we've increased police to 24 hours, seven days a week," says Joseph Savino the Harbormaster. "Matter of fact, we just got back to the dock. We were out on patrol."

The alert appears to involve the stretch of I-95 that skirts the city, an area that includes the ferry terminal. The I-95 bridge over the harbor and the Metro North tracks that run parallel to the highway.

"It began with homeland security in Washington obtaining intelligence information and passing it to Connecticut," says State Police spokesman Sgt. Paul Vance. "In this day and age, all intelligence is taken seriously and passed on to law enforcement agencies that it might affect."

State police stress that the intelligence in this situation is both non-specific and unsubstantiated, but is taken very seriously -- hence the increased security.

Measures people seem willing to put up with for the peace of mind it affords them.

"Better the security here than to have a problem when we're out in the middle of Long Island sound on a boat," says Robert Mancuso.

Source


48 posted on 03/26/2004 9:20:31 AM PST by BikePacker
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To: Dr. Eckleburg
It is POSSIBLE, but not PROBABLE. Given all the info - where this occurred, when, how it occurred, and how much damage occurred - it's "not bloody likely".

I am not at all any of those 3 you listed. But I'm not into hysteria, either, every time something bad happens.
49 posted on 03/26/2004 9:24:13 AM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common Sense is an Uncommon Virtue)
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To: John H K
>Yep, the reconstruction times seem ridiculous on these...I can't see why the Army Corps of Engineers can't be brought in. <

You have a point. Wasn't the interstate system built with a military purpose in mind?

50 posted on 03/26/2004 9:25:11 AM PST by Darnright
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To: So Cal Rocket
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)

Yeah but you did't have Yankee demonrats and unionizd thugs competing for kickback contracts there.

51 posted on 03/26/2004 9:31:27 AM PST by fella
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To: Darnright
"You have a point. Wasn't the interstate system built with a military purpose in mind?"

Yes. Its original name was the System Of Defense And Interstate Highways. General Eisenhower thunk it up. The plan was to provide a way to move men and materiel across the country instead of having to ship them either by rail or sea. In peacetimes, the idea was to let the public use them for travel.

The Interstate System has long since been funded without a dime of military money, however.

Michael

52 posted on 03/26/2004 9:32:06 AM PST by Wright is right! (It's amazing how fun times when you're having flies.)
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To: NYC GOP Chick
PING to you (and anyone else you think might be interested) to this, and posts #28 and #48.
53 posted on 03/26/2004 9:33:58 AM PST by Dr. Eckleburg (There are very few shades of gray.)
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To: John H K
"It's gonna take us a year to rebuild this bridge."

If it had been a railroad bridge, it would be back up inside a week.

***Exclude Amtrack or any other Federally controlled corp.

54 posted on 03/26/2004 9:38:53 AM PST by Deguello
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To: the OlLine Rebel
I'm not into hysteria either...

From your homepage, looks like you're a woman into "cars (old preferred), horse-racing, dogs, graves sites, American Revolution & federal era, military history and American history...coins, old movies, music...(except rap/heavy metal)..."

Yep, no mention of your being into hysteria.

55 posted on 03/26/2004 9:44:21 AM PST by Dr. Eckleburg (There are very few shades of gray.)
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To: So Cal Rocket
Yes, I remember it well. I was living in the Bay Area at the time, and I wondered why the freeways in Southern California could be repaired in a matter of weeks while the freeways in Northern California hadn't been repaired in the several years since the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989.
56 posted on 03/26/2004 9:51:17 AM PST by Poodlebrain
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To: John H K
pants-wetting...

panties in a bunch...

You seem to have an unhealthy fixation with underwear.

Perhaps you and Ms. the OILine Rebel should meet and be oh-so-sophisticated together.

57 posted on 03/26/2004 9:52:06 AM PST by Dr. Eckleburg (There are very few shades of gray.)
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To: BikePacker
Gov. Rowland (RINO) has predicted a reopening of the highway in two weeks. My hunch is that it's going to be a bit longer than that. Maybe quite a bit longer. In fact, maybe the Governor who cuts the ribbon on the reopened bridge might not be Gov. Rowland! Just a hunch. Any nutmeg freepers got ideas on that?
58 posted on 03/26/2004 10:00:02 AM PST by Snickersnee (Where are we going? And what's with this handbasket???)
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To: So Cal Rocket
the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.

Don't forget the Newhall Pass overpass collapse...it took 6 months for a partial opening; what a joy leaving at 3am to get out of the area and down to west L.A. to make it to work by 8.

59 posted on 03/26/2004 10:05:30 AM PST by ErnBatavia (Gay marriage is for suckers...)
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To: Snickersnee
Rowland's time is limited, but they plan to use a quick-fix for the bridge, ie. no bridge, just fill in the roadway below temporarily. He will likely still be gov next week.
60 posted on 03/26/2004 10:06:35 AM PST by Fierce Allegiance
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