Connecticut governor says interstate bridge must be demolished after flaming crash

A bridge on an interstate in Connecticut will need be demolished after a fiery crash damaged its infrastructure, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont said in a news briefing Thursday.

The crash in Norwalk occurred early Thursday morning, when a fuel truck, car, and tractor trailer collided on Interstate 95, which caused the fuel tanker to burst into flames. No serious injuries or fatalities have been reported, but both sides of the interstate will need to be closed after heat from the flames damaged the Fairfield Avenue bridge.

“The heat from the burning fuel compromised some of the bridge, so that bridge is going to have to come down, and that demolition is going to start first thing tomorrow morning,” Lamont said, per the Associated Press.

Lamont added that the actual demolition should take approximately 24 hours, but crews will need to repave the area. The interstate itself Lamont hopes will be reopened by Monday morning.

The tanker was carrying roughly 8,500 gallons at the time of the crash, and the heat from the fire caused the steel on the bridge to overheat and begin to warp, Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said. But the overpass did not look like it would collapse.

Drivers that need to go through the area, which includes Hartford, on their morning commutes are encouraged to find alternative routes. But extra rail services will be added for people looking to go into New York or Hartford.

“My recommendation is if you can’t stay home, take the train, stay away from the cars,” Lamont said, according to the Hill.