5 QUESTIONS WITH GOVERNOR SHAPIRO On January 17, 2023, Governor Josh Shapiro was sworn in as the 48th Governor of Pennsylvania. Giving his remarks from a podium created just for the occasion and given by the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, Gov. Shapiro looked to a future that includes economic opportunity and a government that works for the people.
Shapiro worked with Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, PennDOT, and Philadelphia’s union construction industry to open up a temporary roadway in just 12 days, with six lanes of traffic opening on June 23, 2023.
On June 11, 2023, an overpass section of I-95 collapsed, completely cutting off a main traffic artery that carried about 160,000 vehicles per day. While initial estimates predicted that the overpass would take several months to rebuild, Gov. Shapiro worked with Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, PennDOT, and Philadelphia’s union construction industry to open up a temporary roadway in just 12 days, with six lanes of traffic opening on June 23, 2023.
and engineers, the building trades and the contractors Buckley and Abbonizio got to work immediately. They demolished the damaged roadway and completely rebuilt I-95 in 12 days. They carried out this heroic effort within two weeks of the initial collapse – well ahead of experts' original predictions.
Q: How did your Administration work in collaboration with state, local, and federal agencies to reopen I-95 in 12 days? A: Throughout the I-95 rebuild, we moved quickly, thought creatively, and worked together – local, state, and federal officials coordinated closely with union workers and contractors – to make decisions collectively, ensure resources were available, and cut through red tape to rebuild and reopen I-95 in just 12 days. This was an enormous team effort. Under the direction of Secretary Mike Carroll, PennDOT’s team of experts 34 CONSTRUCTION TODAY
Within 6 days of the collapse, President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg traveled to Philadelphia to survey the site and offered full federal support. They made it clear from the very beginning they would provide all the resources necessary to complete the reconstruction as quickly as possible. In coordination with the federal support, I was able to sign a disaster proclamation to expedite the rebuilding of I-95 and cut through red tape, allowing the Commonwealth to immediately draw down federal funds and making $7 million of state funds immediately available for the reconstruction of the roadway. My administration also worked closely with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Administrator Shailen Bhatt and Pennsylvania Division Administrator Alicia Nolan.