Security increased as terror threat targets I-95: What DID happen on I-95 Yesterday??

WFSB TV ^ | March 26, 2004 | WFSB TV

[RaceBannon]

Security increased as terror threat targets I-95 Email to a Friend Printer Friendly Version

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.

[John H K]

which wouldn't have been the case anywhere else on 95

Umm, I assure you there are zillions of places on 95 where you can close 95 for a couple of weeks with a tanker fire.

The dumbest thing I've heard regarding this incident was some moron on a thread this morning pointing to the fact nobody was killed as "suspicious" evidence it may have been terror-related. Which is beyond hilarious if you think about it.

What amazes me is there aren't more tanker/hazmat accidents on interstates, not how many there are.

[little jeremiah]

I read it was the Hudson River, not more than 2-3 miles from a nuke plant, Indian something... I'm not familiar with that part of the country.

[TaxRelief]

If someone wanted to set a dirty bomb off in NYC, evacuation would be seriously hampered by the disruption of the major arteries leading out of NYC.

[texasbluebell]

Yes, Indian Point, IIRC...?

There was some mention of it 2 to 3 weeks ago, approximately.

[TaxRelief]

Two divers' bodies showed up that week. One just north of Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant and one in Jacksonville. One famous diver "disappeared" a day or so earlier in Australia.

Indian Point is near NYC, but because of prevailing winds, it would be hard to get conditions that would cause massive deaths in NYC. (Westchester County and Putnam County would be badly affected.)

[TaxRelief]

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/16572.htm

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1087845/posts

[Dr. Eckleburg]

From earlier threads today, the terror alert was put out 24 hours before the truck accident.

Note the numerous accidents along and near I-95 today. It's been a busy Friday.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

And whats the possibility it was just an accident ?

[NYCVirago]

But the Goethals Bridge accident in NYC today had me thinking. There was also another bridge closure in NYC, but it must be cleared up by now since it's not on the radar.

I think it's cleared by now, but it took an awfully long time to do so, due to one of the trucks having liquid nitrogen. For what it's worth, Staten Island is not connected to Manhattan via any roadways, but is connected to New Jersey via three bridges, and Brooklyn via one bridge. This accident caused huge traffic pileups today all over the island, needless to say.

[mathluv]

That is the one I meant!

[RaceBannon]

What's happening, Gorgeous?

[RaceBannon]

81 was the crash on th Belleau Wood, fortunately, we didnt have fire, just thousands of gallons of JP-5 flowing all over the deck!

The Nimitz crash I think was 1983 or 4, the one where the autopsies said most of the crew had marijuana in their blood? Killed about a dozen people, injuried 2 or 3 dozen.

[RaceBannon]

Some friends I work with told me that there was a heating oil truck that crashed in New Paltz or somewhere on the Taconic a few years ago, hit the barrier on the right, and the oil all flowed up and forward, then ignited, created a huge oval flame and left the abuttment and bridge it hit all scorched for a few years.

[leadpenny]

I was told by a friend who lives in the area that this section of I-95 (including the overpass) were newly rebuilt?

[RaceBannon]

might have been.

I was told they are going to fill he underneath with dirt and fill, and then pave over it, a quick fix, closing off the street so that the highway is fixed as fast as possible

My best friend from high school died recently, 4 years ago, working on some bridge in Bridegeport, fell off a cherry picker when it tipped over.

[rintense]

Oh, just taking it easy a bit- recovering from some broken bones in my foot from a karate tournament last weekend. How about you? Any good news on the job front?

[SC Swamp Fox]

From post #31:

May 25, 1981 Atlantic Ocean An EA-6B aircraft attempting to land at night struck a helicopter, then hit another aircraft and tow tractor before coming to rest. A fuel fire erupted. Improved flight deck fire fighting systems quickly contained the fire, and once the fire was believed to be out, the order was given to start the clean-up. As sailors approached the scene, a SPARROW missile warhead that was buried in the debris detonated. The explosion restarted the fire and three more warheads detonated before the fire could be extinguished. Fourteen sailors were killed and 45 injured. Three planes were destroyed and nine were damaged.

[RaceBannon]

I am getting laid off next week. I had 7 months here at least, kept me from chapter 7 that long.

It is hard to be optimistic when the rug keeps getting pulled out from under you.

It has been a wonderful lesson in how we all must trust God in all things.

Everything!

We cant trust our intelligence, our good looks, our strength, or our friends and family, but we do have a great God who can take care of us when the lions roar.

It's a lesson I once asked for, but I didn't know what it entailed to learn it.

(Heb 12:11 KJV) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

(Heb 12:12 KJV) Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

(Heb 12:13 KJV) And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

[sausageseller]

Your: all the trackers fault, is ignorant!

I dive a truck and the stupid driving I see everyday by "four wheelers" cannot be recounted on a ream of paper.

The lady in this story is alive because of this truckers actions!

[Spirited]

Thank you for posting this. I had missed it.
Without that span there's a lot more grief, too.