Interstate 95 in Norwalk could remain closed through at least Monday morning, according to Gov. Ned Lamont.
Both sides of I-95 have been closed since about 5:30 a.m. Thursday after a crash involving a tractor-trailer, a fuel truck and another vehicle. The vehicles burst into flames.
The truck, which was hauling gasoline, caught fire under the Fairfield Avenue overpass.
Gov. Lamont said the heat from the fire damaged the overpass and the bridge would have to be taken down. That work will start at 3 a.m. Friday and could take 24 hours or more to complete, he said.
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The Department of Transportation will also have to evaluate the pavement on I-95. Repaving will take a couple of days.
Lamont said the CT DOT hoped to be able to reopen I-95 by the Monday morning commute.
The governor declared a state of emergency Thursday afternoon in response to the crash and closure. He said he reached out to the federal government and hopes the emergency declaration will lead to the feds reimbursing the state for the highway repairs.
Local
"This emergency declaration will help expedite some of the resources needed for us to respond to this situation. I strongly encourage everyone to avoid this area for at least the next few days while the highway remains closed and to stay alert for updates," Lamont said in a release.
While images of the fire and damage are dramatic, state police said there are no injuries.
I-95 South is closed between exits 16 and 15 and I-95 North is closed at exit 13, according to CTRoads.org.
Gov. Lamont and traffic officials urged people not to drive in the area and for those who commute along that stretch of I-95 to work from home if possible.
Gov. Lamont said the state has urged trucking companies to avoid the area of I-95 and use Interstate 84 or Interstate 87 instead.
Officials are also warning truck drivers not to use the Merritt Parkway as an alternate route, because trucks are not allowed on the roadway.
They also said there are several utilities underneath to check, which will be shut off as crews inspect the damage.
Lamont said the state has reached out to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which is on standby as local officials get a better idea of what the impact will be.
It was around 5:30 a.m. when state police learned about the collision on I-95 South, near exit 15 in Norwalk, at the Fairfield Avenue overpass, and vehicles were on fire.
Photos: Fiery crash closes I-95 in Norwalk
Traffic camera video from early Thursday morning showed large fireballs and thick black smoke billowing from the scene.
The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) was called to the scene and said the truck was carrying around 8,500 gallons of gasoline.
They believe that the fire consumed about half of the fuel that the truck was carrying.
They were also evaluating the nearby Norwalk River because of the runoff from battling the fire.
They said marine units, private and from various police and fire departments, were in the water, preparing for the possibility of runoff reaching the water because the catch basin system that runs along I-95 drains into Norwalk harbor.
Later in the morning, they said the runoff was limited because the fire consumed around half the fuel the truck was carrying.
DEEP said they contained the runoff to a retention pond behind the mall and it did not make it to the Norwalk River, but contractors have responded as a precaution.
DEEP also said the fire did not impact air quality in the area.
The highway closure is also affecting local roads in Norwalk and police are working to reroute traffic throughout the city.
Officials said the governor recommended that people in the area work from home until things can get straightened out.
Norwalk Hospital said it is operating normally, but they are adding ambulances and using secondary routes to transport patients as a precaution.
“We want to extend a big thank you to our first responders for ensuring everyone’s safety today! Norwalk Hospital is operating normally. Out of an abundance of caution, we are adding ambulances to our services and utilizing secondary traffic routes for transports,” Amy Forni, a spokesperson for Nuvance Health, said in a statement.
Anyone who is traveling in the area is asked to seek alternate routes and plan for traffic delays.
Other towns are affected as well.
Westport
Westport police said roadways are affected by the closure of I-95.
They said traffic in Westport will remain extremely heavy through the evening commute and most likely in the days to come.
The I-95 closure will have a lasting effect on traffic, police said, and they urge those who do not need to travel to stay off the roads.
Darien
The Darien Police Department is asking drivers to avoid unnecessary travel over the next several days.
They say people should also allow for extra time to get where you need to go if you have to be on the roads.
The town also announced a two-hour delayed opening for Friday morning. They're doing it to give staff and bus drivers more time to get to work.
More road closures and traffic delays
Find more road closures and traffic delays on the CTRoads.org website here.
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