The Great Keystone State Crossing Caper: A Tale of Two Crumbled Bridges
Ah, Pennsylvania. Land of cheesesteaks, liberty bells, and apparently, bridges that like to take a tumble. Now, before you start picturing the entire state succumbing to a sinkhole situation, let's get the lowdown on these two specific bridge-related mishaps.
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| What Bridge Collapsed In Pennsylvania |
The Fiery Fiasco on I-95 (June 2023):
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Imagine this: you're cruising down I-95, belting out your favorite Bon Jovi anthem, when suddenly, the road beneath you does a dramatic disappearing act. That's exactly what happened last summer when a fiery tanker truck decided to become one with the asphalt. The intense heat caused the northbound lanes of the I-95 overpass at the Cottman Avenue interchange to crumble like a stale fortune cookie. Thankfully, the southbound lanes escaped major damage, and with some impressive fast-tracking, a temporary roadway was built in under two weeks! Talk about a pit crew that would make NASCAR jealous.
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The Fall of the Fern Hollow (February 2024):
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This one wasn't quite as dramatic (no flames, thankfully), but still a noteworthy bridge blunder. The Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh decided it had enough of holding the weight of traffic and, well, collapsed. The good news? No one was seriously hurt. The bad news? It turns out a lack of proper maintenance and some finger-pointing between agencies might have been the culprits behind this concrete catastrophe. Lesson learned: bridges, like houseplants, need some TLC to thrive.
So, which bridge collapsed in Pennsylvania?
Technically, both of them did, but at different times and for different reasons. The I-95 collapse in June 2023 was caused by a fiery truck incident, while the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse in February 2024 was likely due to neglected maintenance.
Bonus: How to Avoid a Bridge Collapse on Your Next Pennsylvania Road Trip
- How to spot a bridge on the verge of a meltdown? If the bridge looks like it's held together with duct tape and good vibes, maybe take a detour.
- How to avoid becoming a bridge collapse statistic? Don't be a road hog! Leave plenty of space between you and other vehicles, especially on older bridges.
- How to channel your inner bridge inspector? Pack a pair of binoculars and pretend you're on a secret mission to identify any suspicious cracks or crumbling concrete.
- How to appease the bridge gods? Maybe throw a metaphorical penny over the railing for good luck (not recommended, littering is bad!).
- How to deal with a bridge closure? Breathe deeply, consult your GPS for alternative routes, and crank up some calming tunes. Road rage won't fix a collapsed bridge, but it might ruin your playlist.
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