Officials expect that Interstate 95 in Connecticut will remain closed for several days after a gas tanker was involved in a multi-vehicle crash and exploded early Thursday, leading to a complete shutdown of traffic in both directions on the busy highway.
The accident, which occurred at 5:30 a.m., involved a tractor-trailer and another vehicle, causing the gas tanker to burst into flames and damage an overpass above the interstate in southwest Connecticut, according to Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont. Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling stated that no serious injuries or fatalities were reported from the crash. Travelers were advised to avoid the area near the interstate's Norwalk exit, Lamont said during a Thursday news conference. Traffic in the area was snarled, and both the northbound and southbound lanes near the exit remained closed as of Thursday night, according to the governor.
"The bridge was damaged. The heat from the burning fuel compromised some of the bridge, so that bridge is going to have to come down," Lamont said during a news conference Thursday evening. "That demolition is going to start first thing tomorrow morning." Lamont added that authorities hope to reopen the major highway for two-way commuting as early as Monday morning. The governor also declared a state of emergency to expedite the resources needed to respond to this situation.
Connecticut DOT Highway Operations Bureau Chief Paul Rizzo encouraged motorists to take Interstates 87 and 84 as alternative routes and asked commuters to either work from home or use public transportation. Connecticut DOT Bureau Chief and Chief Engineer Scott Hill said the overpass near where the explosion occurred sustained fire damage but is stable. He added that the bridge is not near collapse, though the full extent of the damage is not yet known. "Certainly, we're not going to let traffic over it," he said. Although the overpass was less than 10 years old, according to Connecticut DOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto, it sustained "pretty severe" damage due to the amount of gasoline in the tanker truck when it burst into flames. Gas from the tanker caused the steel within the bridge to overheat and warp, Eucalitto added.
William Turner, state emergency management director, said during the news conference that the fire had been extinguished. About 6,500 gallons of fuel were burned in the fire, he said, and state environmental agencies are investigating the foam and gas runoff that flowed into the nearby Norwalk River and to empty the remaining 2,000 gallons of gas in the tanker. Demolition of the overpass will begin around 3 a.m. on Friday, and crews will lift the bridge out, a process that could take 24 hours or longer to complete, according to Lamont. Structural engineers also determined that the roadway will need to be repaved before it reopens.
Officials urged people to stay home and avoid the section of the interstate affected by the fire. Lamont advised those who have to travel to use the MetroNorth Railroad, which will have additional rail services.