I-95 Reopened 80 Hours After Conn. Bridge Destroyed in Fiery Tanker Crash

Contractors worked around the clock over the weekend to reopen a section of I-95 – closed following a fuel-tanker crash destroyed an overpass bridge – ahead of schedule, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

Check out Time-Lapse Video: Emergency Repair of I-95 in Conn. in 60 Seconds 

The initial plan was to reopen the highway Monday morning before rush hour, but due to a quick response, the section between Exits 14 and 15 in Norwalk reopened Sunday morning by 10 a.m., according to Governor Ned Lamont.

The “Connecticut Department of Transportation and its contractors got the highway fully reopened in less than 80 hours,” Lamont’s office reported.

The lanes on I-95 reopened by about 9 a.m. May 5 after the damaged overpass bridge was demolished and the roadway cleaned, milled, repaved and restriped.CTDOT (Earthcam)Crews first had to demolish the overpass bridge, which had been significantly damaged from the tanker blaze beneath it. Work started May 3.

The emergency reopening project involved removing tons of concrete, steel and debris from the roadway; sweeping the road; milling; paving; and restriping pavement markings.

“It is truly amazing that in less than 80 hours from that fiery crash Thursday that shut down traffic in both directions, the highway again is fully open,” Lamont said.