Major fire closes I-81 for months

[merk23literturbo]

I don't know if this will affect anyone coming to Carlisle but I am sure it will create some traffic issues.

A section of Interstate 81 is expected to remain closed at least through Sunday after a tanker fire and multiple explosions Thursday caused extensive damage to two spans of the highway’s interchange with Route 322.

Long-term repairs to the interchange, damaged by a fire so intense it melted concrete, could take months and cost millions of dollars.

The incident caused the closure of I-81 between Exits 59 and 70. Commuters should expect significant delays today.

Commuters struggling to find alternate routes home Thursday evening found the situation went from bad to worse when the turnpike crawled to a stop for hours due to an unrelated truck fire. PennDOT had urged commuters to take the turnpike in an effort to alleviate congestion from I-81’s closure

[Merkur]

Wow - this will certainly affect a lot of people. PennDOT states that I-81 is cloded in both directions until Monday May 13 but there could be lasting delays. The incident was at the junction with 322, just east of the Susquehanna bridge and due north of Harrisburg.

Paul

[DPDISXR4Ti]

I was just reading about this last night but didn't realize the magnitude. At least they've got 4 weeks to get alternate routes sorted out for us. Or perhaps they'll actually have re-opened by then. If not, what we'll need to do is head down Rt.83 and then come across the river that way. Heck, that might actually be quicker since all the lights are avoided on 11/15.

Note, if you're coming from the west this won't effect you at all. It also won't effect our "daily commute" from the Radisson to the Fairgrounds.

[DAReese]

I was just reading about this last night but didn't realize the magnitude. At least they've got 4 weeks to get alternate routes sorted out for us. Or perhaps they'll actually have re-opened by then. If not, what we'll need to do is head down Rt.83 and then come across the river that way. Heck, that might actually be quicker since all the lights are avoided on 11/15.

Note, if you're coming from the west this won't effect you at all. It also won't effect our "daily commute" from the Radisson to the Fairgrounds.

Brad,

It'll take them longer than that just to get the bids for the job.

[saleen322]

It appears the damage is not as bad as first thought and the interchange is to be reopened this week I believe.

[John Brennan]

I heard that road burned right down to the ground, but then they realized that that was actually not a problem.

[Merkur]

Correct John. They just reclassified the missing section of bridge deck as a pothole and that allowed them to re-open the road.

Paul