Following a tanker truck fire that led to the collapse of a section of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia last weekend, President Biden visited the site on Saturday and committed the full support of the federal government to the reconstruction efforts. After an aerial survey of the damage, the President addressed the situation at the Philadelphia airport, accompanied by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman, and Representative Brendan Boyle.

Emphasizing the project's national importance, President Biden reassured those affected, stating, "We're with you. We're going to stay with you until this is rebuilt, until it's totally finished." He underscored the urgency of the situation, describing it as the "most important project in the country right now."

The I-95 collapse has significantly disrupted traffic flow in Philadelphia just as the summer travel season begins, impacting hundreds of thousands of commuters, businesses, and trucking routes. The incident involved a tanker truck fire under an overpass, resulting in the collapse of the northbound lanes and compromising the southbound lanes due to intense heat. Recovery efforts have located one body at the wreckage site.

Thanks to accelerated demolition of the debris, construction crews have started building a temporary roadway, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. President Biden commended the rapid response and confirmed the immediate release of $3 million in federal emergency funds for repairs, calling it an initial installment with more federal funding to follow.

With federal assistance, Governor Shapiro expects I-95 to reopen within two weeks. He expressed gratitude for the "extraordinary work" of the union trade workers involved in the reconstruction. Senator Fetterman drew a parallel to President Biden's visit to a collapsed bridge in western Pennsylvania last year, highlighting the swift and successful rebuilding effort in that instance.

President Biden confirmed that the federal government will cover 100% of the reconstruction costs for the first 200 days and 90% thereafter. He emphasized the vital role of I-95, which carries over 150,000 vehicles daily, including 14,000 trucks, calling it "critical to our economy" and "critical to our quality of life." He reiterated his commitment to ensuring the highway's swift and complete restoration.