I-95 fully reopened after tanker crash

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NORWALK, Conn. (WFSB) - I-95 is open after a fiery tanker crash closed the highway for several days.

Commuters and locals breathed a sigh of relief when the interstate reopened to traffic at 10 A.M. Sunday, just in time for the morning commute.

"Everything is sort of normal right now, where the traffic is moving, and nothing can stop them," said Norwalk resident Ted Matthews.

Work involved demolishing the Fairfield Avenue Bridge over I-95 because of the significant damage it sustained from the collision, removing tons of concrete, steel, and debris from the roadway, sweeping the road, milling, paving, and restriping pavement markings.

Residents encountered challenges while the highway was closed.

"These past few days have been pretty tough," said John Mackenzie, Norwalk.

Taxi Driver Thomas Lupin says that the chaotic congestion on the roads affected his earnings. "I lost money because traffic was tight. I used to pick up a guy in 20 minutes from where he was at to come to the train station, but Thursday it took 2 hours," he said.

"It's crazy like, I never expect something like this to happen," said Dallen, Norwalk.

"I've taken the parkway, and I've left extra early, so I won't have to encounter that," Norwalk resident Ruth Elliott said Saturday morning.

An investigation into the cause of Thursday's fiery crash is underway, officials say.

A preliminary release from state police stated that a car merged onto 95 South and collided with a tanker truck.

It then burst into flames beneath the Fairfield Avenue overpass.

Thankfully, no one was injured.

"I remain completely impressed with the response from our Norwalk Fire Department, Norwalk Police Department, and the State of Connecticut, including Governor Lamont's Office, the Connecticut Department of Transportation, the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and our State Police," Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling said. "The fact that there were no injuries from the accident and that crews are working incredibly quickly to remove the bridge so we can reopen I-95 in both directions as soon as possible is a testament to Governor Lamont's leadership and the high level of collaboration between each agency and level of government. I also want to thank our Norwalk residents and business community for their patience, as I know these temporary closures have been a complete inconvenience to their lives."

Governor Ned Lamont declared a state of emergency to speed up reconstruction.

The MTA had extra trains running over the weekend to help take some stress off the roads.

Now, the focus shifts towards replacing the overpass.

Engineers are working around the clock to design a replacement, and a preliminary design will hopefully be presented within the next few weeks.

DOT officials say the replacement could take roughly a year because the needed materials are in short supply and the project is unexpected.

An early estimate for the price tag is around $20 million, including the work involved in the demolition and reopening of the highway.

State leaders have already asked for $3 million in federal funding for the initial response and clean-up.

Now, DOT is seeking federal emergency disaster money to cover future costs.

As for the commute, officials say it should look similar to any other Monday morning.