NORWALK, Conn. — Interstate 95 reopened in both directions Sunday in Norwalk, Conn., days after a a tanker caught fire And seriously damaged bridge above.
THE northbound lanes reopened Saturday, and Gov. Ned Lamont announced the highway would fully reopen around 10 a.m. Sunday. Officials previously said they hoped everything would be open by Monday’s commute.
“It is truly astonishing that less than 80 hours after Thursday’s fiery crash that shut down traffic in both directions, the highway is fully open again,” Lamont said in his statement.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation shared a photo on social media showing work carried out between 9 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday.
“It takes a village, and since the response of local and state police and firefighters to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s environmental cleanup and demolition and “To the rebuilding by the Connecticut Department of Transportation and contractors, everyone did their part,” the governor’s statement continued. “I am impressed by these efforts and grateful for the dedication, skill and work of everyone who participated.”
Chain accident leads to massive fire on oil tanker
Norwalk Police Department/X
Early Thursday morning, authorities said a car swerved in front of a truck pulling a flatbed trailer near the Fairfield Avenue overpass, just past Exit 15 South. The truck then swerved to avoid the car and hit the back of a fuel truck, which caught fire under the overpass and spilled thousands of gallons of gasoline onto the highway.
Firefighters and hazardous materials crews responded to contain the flames and spill, and officials later said air and water quality were not affected in the area.
The bridge, however, was seriously damaged and had to be demolished. DOT crews demolished the bridge Friday before repairs on the road could begin Saturday.
I-95 was closed in both directions Thursday and Friday, causing a major traffic problem for commuters and residual delays on Merritt Parkway, I-84 and I-87.
Fairfield Avenue is expected to remain closed for at least a year while the viaduct is replaced.
State of emergency in CT
Lamont declared a state of emergency after the crash, saying the affected stretch of highway typically serves 160,000 vehicles per day.
Drivers received text message alerts to avoid I-95, and trucking companies were told to use I-87 and I-84 instead. Schools were closed Friday in Norwalk, with officials asking businesses to let employees work from home, if possible.
“I worry about supply chain issues,” the governor said last Thursday. “I think it will definitely have an impact on local merchants.”
CBS New York spoke with local business owners who said business was slow Friday.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal said his office is exploring loans for affected businesses and to offset the estimated $20 million to repair and reopen the highway.
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