A ribbon cutting will take place Friday at 10:30 a.m., with the first vehicles traveling on I-95 at noon near Cottman Avenue.
The announcement was made by Dan Gleason, an assistant construction engineer at PennDOT, during a meeting Thursday night at Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 39, 7229 Tulip St.
The meeting was geared toward businesses affected by the June 11 fire caused by an accident involving a gas-filled commercial tanker truck under I-95 near the Cottman Avenue exit, causing a portion of the highway – that otherwise was in good condition – to collapse. The driver was killed.
Demolition was completed last week in four days. Last weekend, crews filled the gap with ultra-lightweight foamed glass aggregate to build up to surface level.
At a Wednesday news conference near State Road and Cottman Avenue, PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said the interim surface contains parts that weigh 400,000 pounds, and that the road will be safe and sound.
Crews began paving and striping three new lanes in both directions on Wednesday night.
At that news conference, Gov. Josh Shapiro said he is addicted to the construction livestream –
https://www.penndot.pa.gov/RegionalOffices/district-6/Pages/AlertDetails.aspx.
Shapiro thanked Buckley & Company Inc., PennDOT and building trades workers for being on the job 24/7, in 12-hour shifts, in the heat and rain and on Father’s Day. He said the work is being done safely, the right way and ahead of schedule.
The federal government will pay $25 million to $30 million for the reconstruction.
While the road will reopen, authorities say it could be a year before the northbound exit at Cottman reopens.
Others appearing at Thursday night’s meeting included representatives from the city Department of Commerce and the federal Small Business Administration Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience; Police Chief Inspector Anthony Boyle; City Councilman Mike Driscoll; and Dominick Mireles, director of the city Office of Emergency Management.
The SBA is offering low-interest, long-term loans for businesses affected by the road closure. There will be no duplication with insurance companies. Call 800-659-2955 or visit SBA.gov/disaster.
The city has a Merchants Fund that offers grants to eligible businesses. Call 215-399-1339 or email grants@merchantsfund.org. ••
