I-95 is an important artery for not only the East Coast, but for regional transportation and commuters in Philadelphia. The affected portion of I-95 carries about 150,000 vehicles per day, of which 14,000 are trucks, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission said Sunday. Along with traffic, there could be an economic impact from a closure this massive, snarling commutes and complicating deliveries.
“This economic loss has the potential to cost the state jobs throughout the economy,” the study said. But because I-35W was such an important route for commuters and truckers, the bridge was rebuilt a little over a year later, much ahead of the December 2008 timeline, which was already considered to be fast. The state had fast tracked $234 million to build the bridge ahead of the deadline, reports said.