Workers arrived at the Fairfield Avenue overpass around 3 a.m. Friday, a day after the fiery crash — with a 13-mile backup reported on the southbound side of the Merritt Parkway in Fairfield, and serious delays also reported northbound and on surrounding routes.
The crash happened when the tanker collided with another commerical vehicle and then a passenger car. Norwalk Mayor Harry W. Rilling said: “We are very grateful that nobody was seriously injured,” and praised state and local workers for their swift effrorts to quell the fire, according to the Hartford Courant .
The damaged section of I-95 is not expected to reopen until Monday at the earliest following the shocking Thursday morning crash, in which a tanker truck packed with 8,500 gallons of gas slammed into a tractor-trailer and a car before bursting into a fireball.
The tanker engulfed in flames on I-95 in Norwalk Thursday morning. Matthew McDermott Officials urged drivers to look for other routes. CT Insider
Norwalk Public Schools even closed Friday “due to ongoing traffic concerns and delays.”
People were encouraged to work from home and avoid non-essential travel to ease traffic around the interstate, a major East Coast artery that links New York and New England.
“We’ve scheduled some different staggering work times for people so that they can come in later, maybe go home earlier so we can reduce some of the traffic,” Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling said.
“But we’re also asking a lot of our staff to work from home. So we feel that we’ll keep some of the traffic off the road.”
A tractor-trailer loaded with thousands of gallons of gasoline exploded into a fiery inferno Thursday morning on I-95 in Connecticut. WCBS-TV Gov. Ned Lamont said no one was seriously hurt. CT Insider
#CTTraffic Motorists are urged to avoid non-essential travel in the Norwalk area. Commercial vehicle operators are asked to monitor vehicle weight and height restrictions while navigating alternate routes. Commercial vehicles remain prohibited from traveling on CT Parkways. https://t.co/PtGz8S5sxo
“The heat from the burning fuel compromised some of the bridge, so that bridge is going to have to come down and that demolition is going to start first thing [Friday] morning,” Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday.
Aerial footage shows the remains from the tanker crash and fire on I-95 in Norwalk, Ct. WFSBnews
Lamont said no one was seriously hurt and urged drivers to stay away from the area, noting “horrendous” traffic which was backed up for miles during the morning rush.
Secondary roads were also jammed — including the Merritt Parkway, from which trucks are barred because its underpasses are too low.
Traffic delays were expected through the weekend.
#CTTraffic Update: I-95 northbound and southbound in the area of Exit 15 in Norwalk will remain closed for an extended period of time. We are currently unable to anticipate the duration of this closure. Please seek alternate routes and plan for significant traffic delays.
Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto added, “This bridge is less than 10 years old … and the damage was pretty severe due to the amount of gasoline that was in the tanker ignited directly underneath the bridge structure. The steel did begin to overheat and warp.”
The raging fire damaged the overpass above it on the highway in Connecticut. WCBS-TV Secondary roads were also jammed — including the Merritt Parkway, from which trucks are barred because its underpasses are too low. Douglas Healey for NY Post Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto added, “This bridge is less than 10 years old … and the damage was pretty severe due to the amount of gasoline that was in the tanker.” Matthew McDermott Following the crash, Lamont declared a state of emergency in a bid to prompt federal authorities to reimburse the state for the highway repairs. Douglas Healey for NY Post “I strongly encourage everyone to avoid this area for at least the next few days while the highway remains closed and to stay alert for updates,” Lamont said in a release. Douglas Healey for NY Post The investigation remains ongoing. Douglas Healey for NY Post
Following the crash, Lamont declared a state of emergency in a bid to prompt federal authorities to reimburse the state for the highway repairs.
“This emergency declaration will help expedite some of the resources needed for us to respond to this situation. I strongly encourage everyone to avoid this area for at least the next few days while the highway remains closed and to stay alert for updates,” Lamont said in a release.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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