How long will I-95 be closed after bridge collapse in Philadelphia? Here is the latest

Commuters might need to stay away from Interstate 95 in Philadelphia for months after a tanker truck heading north overturned and caught fire, collapsing an overpass.

The northbound side is completely caved in, and the southbound side is not structurally sound to carry traffic, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a Sunday press conference. Shapiro suggested it could take months for repairs to be made.

"We expect it to take that time," Shapiro said, "and we will have that specific time set forth once the engineers and PennDOT have completed their review."  

The governor recently signed a disaster declaration that immediately prepares $7 million in state funds for construction and authorizes the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Transportation, and the Pennsylvania State Police to use all available resources and personnel, as necessary.

Shapiro is in contact with Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for assistance in the rebuilding effort. Demolition of the bridge is already underway, but a timeline is yet to be released until a full investigation is completed.

"All of our federal partners have pledged a complete and total support and assistance as we create alternate routes and as we rebuild I-95," Shapiro said

This scene is similar to the 2018 Interstate 85 collapse in Atlanta. While repairs from a massive fire were estimated to take months, crews finished within six weeks.