Interstate 95 will be closed for days in Connecticut after fiery crash damages bridge

Interstate 95 in Connecticut was expected to be closed for several days after a gas tanker involved in a multivehicle crash exploded, shutting down traffic in both directions on the busy highway.

The accident at 5:30 a.m. Thursday involving a tractor-trailer and another vehicle caused the gas tanker to erupt into flames and damage an overpass above the interstate in southwest Connecticut, according to Gov. Ned Lamont. Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling said no serious injuries or fatalities were reported from the crash.

Travelers were advised to avoid the area near the interstate's Norwalk exit, Lamont said at a news conference Thursday. Traffic was snarled and the northbound and southbound lanes near the exit remained closed as of Thursday night, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

"The bridge was damaged. The heat from the burning fuel compromised some of the bridge, so that bridge is going to have to come down," Lamont said at the news conference. "That demolition is going to start first thing tomorrow morning."

Photos and videos posted on social media by the Norwalk Department of Police Services showed the tanker engulfed in flames underneath a bridge. The department didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY.

Lamont said authorities hoped to reopen the highway for two-way commuting as early as Monday morning. The governor also declared a state of emergency, which will help "expedite some of the resources needed for us to respond to this situation."

Connecticut DOT Highway Operations Bureau Chief Paul Rizzo encouraged motorists to take interstates 87 and 84 as alternative routes and asked commuters to either work from home or use public transportation.

Interstate 95 is used by more than 100,000 drivers in the state a day as of September, according to Connecticut DOT's traffic data. The highway connects New York City to Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Connecticut overpass sustains significant damage but still stable

Connecticut DOT Bureau Chief and Chief Engineer Scott Hill said the overpass at the crash site was damaged by fire but is stable. He said the bridge isn't near collapse, though he doesn't know the full extent of the damage.

"Certainly, we're not going to let traffic over it," he said.

Although the overpass was less than 10 years old, according to Connecticut DOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto, it sustained "pretty severe" damage. Gas from the tanker caused the steel within the bridge to overheat and warp, Eucalitto added.

William Turner, state emergency management director, said during the news conference that the fire was extinguished. About 6,500 gallons of fuel were consumed in the fire, he said, and state environmental agencies were investigating the foam and gas runoff into the nearby Norwalk River and planned to empty the remaining 2,000 gallons of gas in the tanker.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg confirmed on X, formerly Twitter, that the agency's highways team is working closely with Connecticut authorities.

Overpass demolition to start Friday

Demolition and removal of the overpass was set to begin around 3 a.m. on Friday and could take 24 hours or longer to complete, Lamont said. Structural engineers also determined that the roadway would need to be repaved before it reopens.

Officials urged people to stay home and to avoid the damaged section of the interstate. Lamont advised those who have to travel to use the MetroNorth Railroad, which will have additional rail services.

Norwalk Public Schools were closed Friday because of the travel disruptions.

Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at knurse@USATODAY.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, @KrystalRNurse.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: I-95 will be closed for days after crash damages bridge in Connecticut