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I-95 NE Philly Collapse
- Thread starter cougarconnoisseur
- Start date
1. Gov. Shapiro is involved, NOT dickwad Mayor Kenny (which is a good thing). 2. Feds have pledged support (another name for money) 3. A no-bid emergency contract will be issued toot-sweet to a highly qualified bridge construction company who will be told to do whatever it fucking takes with no limitation on costs. 4. Early completion incentives will be included to keep the job humming along. 5. I'm pretty sure PA Dot engineers have copies of the original plans to make ordering parts, materials etc. almost immediate.
All that is true and will help, but DEP and EPA are your enemy, and the enemy of anything productive in the world. Until I hear Mister Shapiro specifically say that he told the DEP to back off, and until I hear the Mister Biden specifically say that he told the EPA to back off, I take the over on two years. Maybe will see if Vegas has any prop bets going.
True, however I have an educated guess of 12-18 months. Maybe we should we start a poll thread guessing the re-opening date?
Emergency funding & contracts to replace existing infrastructure to a near-original original condition will not require the usual Fed & PA gauntlet of permits and environmental impact reports, as the project is defined as repairs. Once the wreckage is cleared from the NB lanes, the abutments will be inspected, and some design work to replace/re-use the existing bearing points will be performed. The engineering firm on emergency retainer will design modifications to the original drawings as necessary, and permits will be issued in an expedited review. The new bridge components will be bid & fabricated during the permit review, and installation starts as soon as the permit is issued. The inspection, re-design etc. will be 6-9 months upfront while the gaping hole in the highway sits.
The SB lanes will also need to be inspected, a damage assessment made, repairs designed and a budget and repair schedule established. I would think it's the more complicated project. However, the inspection might reveal that limited use is possible with shoring, fewer lanes, and a slower speed limit while the major repair work is in design. Even if only one lane in each direction at 40MPH is realistic, the highway will "reopen" using the SB bridge if at all possible, and as soon as possible. No matter what, I bet the ramp under the highway onto Cottman Ave. is closed until everything is complete.
TLDR: It's gonna be a real mess for a while.
Emergency funding & contracts to replace existing infrastructure to a near-original original condition will not require the usual Fed & PA gauntlet of permits and environmental impact reports, as the project is defined as repairs. Once the wreckage is cleared from the NB lanes, the abutments will be inspected, and some design work to replace/re-use the existing bearing points will be performed. The engineering firm on emergency retainer will design modifications to the original drawings as necessary, and permits will be issued in an expedited review. The new bridge components will be bid & fabricated during the permit review, and installation starts as soon as the permit is issued. The inspection, re-design etc. will be 6-9 months upfront while the gaping hole in the highway sits.
The SB lanes will also need to be inspected, a damage assessment made, repairs designed and a budget and repair schedule established. I would think it's the more complicated project. However, the inspection might reveal that limited use is possible with shoring, fewer lanes, and a slower speed limit while the major repair work is in design. Even if only one lane in each direction at 40MPH is realistic, the highway will "reopen" using the SB bridge if at all possible, and as soon as possible. No matter what, I bet the ramp under the highway onto Cottman Ave. is closed until everything is complete.
TLDR: It's gonna be a real mess for a while.
I use Patco anyway instead of driving from Jersey. My tip is to take the back exit when you get off 8th and market and walk into the double doors that lead right into Fashion District (formerly the Gallery). Use that to cut through all the above ground traffic while avoiding the heat (also plenty of bathrooms).
Then just get off on the 2nd floor where H&M is. That takes to you to 10th street where you walk 2 blocks right into Chinatown.
Then just get off on the 2nd floor where H&M is. That takes to you to 10th street where you walk 2 blocks right into Chinatown.
It sucks so bad. What used to be a quick easy drive to Philly for some mongering now added an extra 30-40 mins (not counting traffic) for me. I'll have to be really in the mood for someone in Philly to make it down. Plus the annual 1 Eagles game for the season.
I agree with most it'll most likely be at least 10+ months if not way longer to fix, but who knows!
I agree with most it'll most likely be at least 10+ months if not way longer to fix, but who knows!
