Interstate 95 closure in Norwalk to last days

NORWALK, Conn. (WTNH) — A tractor-trailer fire involving 8,500 gallons of gasoline shut down Interstate 95 Thursday morning in Norwalk — and the area is not expected to reopen for days.

The Fairfield Avenue overpass will be demolished starting at 3 a.m. Friday, according to Gov. Ned Lamont. The interstate could reopen to two-way traffic as early as Monday morning, something Lamont called “heroic work.”

The bridge, which is less than a decade old, was severely damaged by the fire, which ignited directly underneath the structure.

Officials urged patience and suggested for anyone who can work from home to do so. Drivers are also asked to avoid all non-essential travel in the Norwalk area.

Norwalk has also announced that schools will be closed on Friday due to the traffic concerns. Athletic events, shows and proms will still happen, although practices are canceled.

The crash happened at about 5:30 a.m. on I-95 southbound in the area of Exit 15 and 16. A tractor-trailer, a fuel tanker and a passenger vehicle crashed, and no one was seriously injured. However, officials said that there was an increase in other crashes following the initial one.

Traffic is expected to remain a hassle for days while drivers wait for the interstate to reopen.

“My recommendation is if you can’t stay home, take the train,” Lamont said. “Stay away from the cars.”

Department of Energy and Environmental Protection spokesperson Paul Copleman said some of the product from a tanker tractor-trailer fell into a catch basin that runs along I-95, which drains into the Norwalk Harbor. Marine units — including DEEP and a local hazmat team — were on scene to contain and clean-up that material. Crews were able to prevent the material from entering the Norwalk River.

DEEP said that testing showed that the area’s air quality was not impacted by the fire.

Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling said the situation could have been worse.

“We are very grateful that nobody was seriously injured,” he said.

Extra officers will be on the roads over the next couple of days.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said his highways team is working with the Connecticut Department of Transportation. He asked locals to pay attention to local authorities regarding detours.

Lamont filed an emergency declaration with the federal government in order to receive funds to pay for replacing the bridge.

Watch an update on the closure in the video below:

Drivers were ensnarled in the traffic early Thursday afternoon, including parents trying to get their children to school.

“There was so much traffic that literally we were barricaded in,” Alexandra Angeloro said.

After two hours, she said they gave up trying to make it to school.

“Like, you send your kid off to school, and then something like this happens literally around the corner from where they’re at,” Angeloro said.

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