Headache-causing morning for commuters with two crashes on Interstate 76
Friday morning started off with traffic delays and headaches for commuters on Interstate 76, as two crashes occurred not far from each other.
The first incident happened before 5 a.m. on the westbound side of the Schuylkill Expressway. A dump truck overturned, spilling its load of sand onto the road between Exit 340A (Lincoln Drive/Kelly Drive) and Exit 339 (U.S. Route 1 – City Avenue).
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Due to the overturned dump truck, three lanes had to be closed, and vehicles could only pass through one lane of traffic. Fortunately, all lanes were reopened by 7:21 a.m., as reported by the PA511 website.
But just when commuters thought the worst was over, another multi-vehicle collision occurred shortly before 6 a.m. between Exit 341 (Montgomery Drive/West River Drive) and Exit 340B (U.S. 1 North – Roosevelt Blvd.). Firefighters were on the scene, reportedly having to rip the roof off a car. The extent of the damage and injuries, if any, is still unknown.
For those planning to drive out of Philly on Friday morning, it might be wise to consider alternate routes to avoid the chaos on I-76. Kelly Drive, MLK Drive, Belmont Avenue, and Lancaster Avenue are all viable options for leaving the city.
Additionally, drivers taking I-76 East during the next four weekends should anticipate closures for PennDOT repairs to a bridge deck. Be sure to plan accordingly to avoid any further delays or complications.