Crews on Friday began demolishing a bridge in Connecticut that was severely damaged when a gasoline tanker truck crashed on Interstate 95, causing “extreme” delays and even closing a school. .
Workers arrived at the Fairfield Avenue Viaduct around 3 a.m. Friday, the day after the fiery crash. A 13-mile backup was reported on the southbound side of Merritt Parkway in Fairfield, with significant delays also reported on northbound and surrounding routes.
A damaged section of Interstate 95 will remain open until at least Monday after a shocking accident Thursday morning in which a tanker truck carrying 8,500 gallons of gasoline collided with a tractor-trailer and a car, exploding in a fireball. It is not expected to reopen. .
Norwalk public schools were also closed Friday “due to ongoing traffic concerns and delays.”
People were encouraged to work from home and avoid non-essential travel to ease travel on the interstate, the East Coast’s main arterial link between New York and New England.
“We’ve set up some staggered work hours so that people can come to work later and maybe go home earlier, so we can reduce some of the traffic,” said Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling. Stated.
“But we’re also asking a lot of our staff to work from home. So we think it’s possible to keep some of the traffic off the road.”
The interstate is not expected to reopen until Monday morning at the earliest.
“The heat from the combustion of the fuel damaged part of the bridge, so that bridge has to be demolished, and demolition will begin first.” [Friday] morning,” Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday.
No one was seriously injured, Lamont said, pointing to “terrible” traffic backed up for dozens of miles during the morning rush and urging motorists to stay out of the area.
Secondary roads, such as Merritt Parkway, where underpasses are too low for trucks to pass, were also congested.
Traffic congestion was expected over the weekend.
“This bridge is less than 10 years old and the damage was very severe because a large amount of gasoline on a tanker ignited directly beneath the bridge structure,” said Garret Eucharit, secretary of the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Ta. The steel overheated and began to warp. ”
After the crash, Lamont declared a state of emergency to force federal authorities to reimburse the state for highway repairs.
“This state of emergency declaration will help quickly provide some of the resources needed to respond to this situation. Please avoid the area for at least the next few days while the highway remains closed to traffic. We strongly encourage you to stay tuned for updates,” Lamont said in the release.
The investigation is still ongoing.
