Inzane travel through Philly…. Fugget about it!!

[jim@98valkyrie.com]

Hey all,
For anyone looking to travel on I-95 through Philly in the next week ( or several months for that matter), you will need to find an alternative route. A fuel tanker caught fire early this morning in one of the underpasses in Philly. The northbound lanes collapsed and the southbound lanes are reported as compromised. The highway is closed in both directions. Traffic around here will be a nightmare for months to come.

[Jess from VA]

I-95 in No VA sucks every single day.

I took a chance Saturday morning (mistake), and the 45 minute ride to Fredricksburg (from Newington) was a nerve racking stop and go and roll for over 2 hours.  (and freeways have very little shade)

I HATE I-95.  

It might be OK in the middle of the night or very early morning (but don't count on it).

If you have the time, run out to Front Royal VA, get on the Skyline Drive (top two exits of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and ride that to Roanoke.  

I 95 (sucks) (some days, it's like this all the way to Richmond)(no lane splitting and no running the break-down lanes)


Skyline Drive (wonderful) (just watch out for white tail)

[hueco]

As if traffic was not bad already.

[old2soon]

     As a FORMER now RETIRED 18 wheeler driver in all 48 states I now NO HOW NO WAY in any shape or form miss Anything about any portion of I 95. BUT having been thru Philly during "rush hours" I predict some truly horrendous road rage incidents coming to Philly starting EARLY Monday morning!    For all y'all livin in Philly stock up on Tyelenol NOW!   RIDE SAFE.

[Jersey mike]

Current traffic info for the area of the bridge issue;

https://www.app.com/story/news/traffic/commuting/2023/06/11/i-95-bridge-collapse-in-philadelphia-what-to-know/70311155007/

[scooperhsd]

I-95 in No VA sucks every single day.

I took a chance Saturday morning (mistake), and the 45 minute ride to Fredricksburg (from Newington) was a nerve racking stop and go and roll for over 2 hours.  (and freeways have very little shade)

I HATE I-95. 

It might be OK in the middle of the night or very early morning (but don't count on it).

If you have the time, run out to Front Royal VA, get on the Skyline Drive (top two exits of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and ride that to Roanoke. 

I 95 (sucks) (some days, it's like this all the way to Richmond)(no lane splitting and no running the break-down lanes)


Skyline Drive (wonderful) (just watch out for white tail)

I-95 traffic in VA north of Richmond sucks - just about anytime of day . When I was working in the NCR , but was weekending down in NC (usually leaving Raleigh area Sunday evening / Monday AM, leaving NCR Friday after work) , I really grew to hate going there.

[carolinarider09]

Because of my daughters new 'location" I have to travel several times a year to an area near Richmond, VA.

Since we take the dog (because daughter has a dog and needs the interaction) we have to take the car.

We have taken I-77 and the I-85 out of Charlotte, NC and the I-40 to I-85 (well they are the same road for awhile) and then I-85 north to the Richmond, VA.

Charlotte traffic, any day, it seems is bumper to bumper (well we have not tired it at night yet).  Same with some portions of I-85 to I-40.  The only good part is I-85 north just south of the VA/NC state lines.

We then tired I-95 south.  That road is a real, real piece of crap.   Several accidents along the way, almost had one ourselves (car stopped suddenly in front of us), road maintenance has traffic backed up for miles.  I was told that was normal (accidents that is).   Should never be that way and accepted.  But...... 

So, now, we take back roads until we get to Burlington and I-40/I-85 north.  Traffic is reasonable and, for the first time, I really don't have a problem with VA State Patrols monitoring the interstate from those little "crossover/between" roads.   

[old2soon]

     My biggest concern with my 18 wheeler was overall size and overall weight. Many side roads could might maybe have gotten me around a traffic backup EXCEPT fer that 13' 2" bridge and my rig being 13' 6" high!  When I hauled permit loads the state/city/county gave me VERY SPECIFIC ROUTING with heavy duty fines should I care to free lance.  And while Philly and Pa. will find routing for large vehicles gonna be very interesting until I 95 back up and running.
     Any word on the WHY of that tanker going up in flames? Curious minds and such like. RIDE SAFE.

[jim@98valkyrie.com]

     
     Any word on the WHY of that tanker going up in flames? Curious minds and such like. RIDE SAFE.

There were some words around possibly that the driver couldn't navigate the off ramp that goes directly under the Interstate. Just heard that they recovered his remains. ID'ed by the family. Nothing official yet. Could have been a medical issue. RIP.

[0leman]

Heard on the morning news that it was confirmed that the driver didn't make it. 

I have driven many roads around the country.  There always seems to be some road construction taking place.  It will be a slow down while the bridge is fixed, but there are ways to route around. 

[jim@98valkyrie.com]

The detours are about 35 miles. Many people are using surface streets near the closure as they parallel the Interstate.  Yesterday’s rain storm during the evening commute caused a bunch of extra delays and slow downs. That section of roadway is part of the years long construction in that area.  That actual bridge was only five years old. Reports say the fuel was burning at 1900 deg. +. My wife said they look like spaghetti.