Interstate 95 in southwestern Connecticut has reopened to traffic after a gasoline tanker fire damaged an overpass, causing the highway to close in both directions. The busy stretch of I-95, located in Norwalk, just 40 miles northeast of New York City, was back up and running at full capacity on Monday morning.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont praised the swift response of officials and workers who led the cleanup, demolition, and rebuilding efforts, allowing the highway to reopen in less than 80 hours. The northbound lanes reopened on Saturday evening, while the southbound lanes were back in operation by Sunday morning.
Despite the reopening of the highway, work is ongoing to replace the Fairfield Avenue Bridge, which sustained significant damage in the incident. Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto stated that a design for the new bridge is expected to be completed within the next few weeks, with the goal of reopening the bridge within a year.
This recovery project, estimated at $20 million, is expected to be funded by the federal government to alleviate the financial burden on local taxpayers. Senator Richard Blumenthal emphasized the importance of federal support in covering the costs of the reconstruction.
The incident in Connecticut is part of a broader trend of major infrastructure repairs following accidents. Other cities like Philadelphia and Los Angeles have successfully reopened interstates after closures, while Baltimore is facing its own challenge in rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed earlier this year.
Governor Lamont declared a state of emergency in response to the accident, initially announcing the closure of the interstate through the weekend. Motorists were advised to avoid the area, as crews worked tirelessly to clear debris and repair the highway. The southbound lanes required additional milling and repaving due to the severity of the damage.
