Steve Keeley Bob Kelly city Philadelphia experts prevention Extreme Steve Keeley Bob Kelly city Philadelphia

Was I-95 collapse preventable? Engineering expert explains how the disaster happened

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PHILADELPHIA - Plumes of jet black smoke and raging flames fill the skies as large concrete slabs of concrete come crumbling down.That was the scene on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia Sunday morning as an overpass of the critical roadway collapsed after a tanker fire erupted just feet below.The devastating collapse has caused major concerns for commuters and residents, leaving several questions unanswered: how did it happen; was it preventable; can the bridge be re-built?RELATED COVERAGE: Commuter Alert: Alternate routes, SEPTA changes mapped out to avoid collapse on I-95 in PhiladelphiaAmir Yaghoob Farnam, an engineering professor at Drexel University, stopped by Good Philadelphia Monday to break crown the collapse, and answer some of those questions.The engineering expert says after analyzing photos and videos, the collapse was likely  the result of two things that just don't mix well - heat and steel.Farnam says the I-95 overpass was constructed with concrete reinforced by girders made of steel, which is very susceptible to heat."Because of extreme heat, steel can lose 40 to 50 percent of its strength," he explained.A tanker truck fire caused an overpass on I-95 to collapse on Sunday morning.

FOX 29's Steve Keeley and Bob Kelly discuss the collapse and its impact on traffic in the area.Heat from the tanker fire below made it impossible for the bridge to carry its load, according to Farnam, who says this incident reminds him of the World Trade Center collapse."It was also a heat problem," he said.

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Northeast Philadelphia - Businesses impacted by I-95 collapse bouncing back: 'It's definitely been busier' - fox29.com - state Pennsylvania
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Businesses impacted by I-95 collapse bouncing back: 'It's definitely been busier'
PHILADELPHIA - Businesses impacted by the fiery collapse of Interstate 95 earlier this month say they are starting to see normal volume of customers again following the highway's expedited reopening. Alison Korbik, Catering Manager at Sweet Lucy's Smokehouse, told FOX 29 that business has "definitely been busier" since the once cratered overpass was repaired with an innovative fix.Investigators say on the morning of June 11 truck driver Nathan Moody, 53, was navigating a curve on the Cottman off-ramp when his tanker truck overturned and caught fire. Soon, the southbound stretch of the highway collapsed, killing Moody and miraculously sparing other motorists and bystanders on the heavily trafficked artery of highway. Most Northeast Philadelphia residents are happy I-95 is reopened and traffis returning to normal.The collapse spiraled traffic into chaos, with ever-changing detours and reroutes designed to navigate motorists that sometimes sent motorists into unfamiliar parts of the city. Nearby businesses, like Sweet Lucy's Smokehouse and Sharkeys Grill and Ale House, had their customer bases stunted by having a main route to the restaurants severed. "We did have a lot of people come during that time and say that they weren't going to come here because of the closure even though there were other ways to get to us," Korabik said.Pennsylvania state leaders, together with the federal government, worked around the clock and concocted a plan for a temporary fix that would ensure the safe reopening of I-95. Meanwhile, businesses that weren't impacted by the collapse showed some neighborly hospitality by promoting the businesses that were feeling the pinch. I-95 COLLAPSE COVERAGE"If you're nearby and it's on your route, stop on
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