Section of Connecticut Interstate Reopens

March 29, 2004

Section of Connecticut Interstate Reopens
According to CNN.com, northbound lanes on I-95 reopened Sunday in Bridgeport, Conn.

The more heavily damaged southbound lanes are scheduled to reopen on Thursday. This progress comes well ahead of the anticipated schedule.

Part of I-95 was closed last week after a tanker trunk carrying over 12,000 gallons of oil crashed and exploded. According to reports, steel beams supporting the southbound lanes softened and sagged several feet, and the span holding the northbound lanes were also damaged.

Transportation officials said repair work was progressing faster than expected. The northbound lanes originally had been expected to reopen midweek, with the southbound lanes scheduled to be back in service over a temporary span next weekend.

Officials have said that full repairs could take up to a year and a half to complete.

NTA members in Connecticut are still offering travel information. The Connecticut Office of Tourism reports that the Connecticut Tourism Division of the Commission on Arts, Tourism, Culture, History and Film is providing information on both alternative driving routes and mass transportation on three communication resource venues: its official website, http://preseason.ntaonline.com/; toll-free information line, 1-800-CTBOUND, and at its six official Welcome Centers.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation also has a toll free line, 1-877-284-9995, for the latest pre-recorded information on detour routes.