Gov. Josh Shapiro said this week that the section of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia that collapsed this month will reopen this weekend after construction crews have worked around the clock on the road.
However, rainfall is expected in the area Thursday through the weekend. Shapiro said 12 hours of dry weather are necessary to complete the paving and striping process.
Fortunately, Pocono Raceway, in Tunkhannock, was able to lend a hand. With the raceway’s next race roughly a month away, officials there had no immediate need for its jet dryer, which is used to keep the tracks dry for the races.
To rebuild I-95 on time, we need 12 hours of dry weather to complete the paving and striping process.
With rain in the forecast, we reached out @PoconoRaceway for help — and they're bringing their jet dryer to Philly to help dry this section of I-95 and keep us on schedule.
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) June 22, 2023
On Thursday morning, the raceway sent some of its crew, along with the jet dryer, to Philadelphia to help out.
“Anything we can do to help the commonwealth or the residents of, it’s a big deal for us,” Pocono Raceway President Ben May said.
May said he received a call from Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll, whom he had known from when Carroll was a state representative in Luzerne County. Carroll, knowing that the raceway had the jet dryer, asked if they could lend it to the repair efforts along the interstate.
May agreed to help. The jet dryer, which is on a truck, shoots heat at a specific area of asphalt. May said it does not take very long to dry.
“It does do a tremendous job as compared to a broom or any type of brush truck,” May said.
He said the truck will be there until the job is done. Anything the governor’s office needs for the project, they will help with.
“They’ve done a heck of a job getting that road to the point it is,” May said.
The section of I-95, which collapsed June 11, is still on track to reopen this weekend.
