Truck drivers who aren’t local to Philadelphia aren’t overly concerned about the possible effects of the Interstate 95 collapse, a recent poll shows.
A portion of Interstate 95 at the Route 73/Cottman Avenue ramp has been closed indefinitely after an intense tanker fire compromised the structural integrity of the overpass, causing it to collapse. Now, some industry experts say the closure and extended construction will have far-reaching effects on truckers and the trucking industry overall, and local drivers are reportedly worried. However, a recent poll shows that truckers not local to Philadelphia have little to no concern about the effects of the major freight corridor’s closure.
In a CDLLife App poll with 397 participants, only 24% of drivers responded that they would be avoiding Philadelphia for the time being. Another 24% responded that they would be accepting loads to the area regardless, while 52% replied that they typically avoid Philadelphia anyway.
“If the $$ is there, that’s where I’ll go,” wrote one driver in the comments.
“That’s like asking if I’ll go back to CA,” commented another.
“I ran to Packer Ave. port on Monday,” replied a third. “There was hardly any traffic. Everyone that needed to go north of Philly was smart enough to cross the river into Jersey and run up.”
A plan for a temporary repair of the Interstate was announced on Wednesday.