Drivers in Philly will once again have to deal with detours.
PennDOT closed the northbound lanes of I-95 at 10 p.m. Monday after an oversized truck crashed into a train bridge in Northeast Philly earlier in the afternoon.
Workers initially reduced traffic on the highway approaching the Betsy Ross Bridge/Aramingo Avenue interchange to one lane as engineers from Conrail evaluated the damage in an effort to devise an emergency repair plan.
As those repairs are made, PennDOT says northbound lanes will remain shut for “several days.”
Drivers instead will be forced off at exit 26 and onto Aramingo. The detour will then turn right on Adams Ave. before returning to the I-95 on-ramp.
PennDOT offers the obvious advice for drivers: “Motorists are advised to avoid the closure areas because significant backups and delays will occur on I-95, the alternate routes and surface streets in the vicinity of the work area.”
While the damage is much less significant, Philly drivers would be forgiven for feeling a twinge of deja vu after last summer’s truck crash and fire that caused I-95 to collapse near Cottman Ave.
While there will likely be headaches and delays over the next few days, take solace in the fact that even though last summer’s highway collapse was much, much more damaging and debilitating, the much-feared “carmageddon” never really materialized. Instead, 95 reopened way sooner than anticipated.
So, if recent history is any guide, drivers will manage the detour, and we’ll be back to business as usual before too long.
