Demolition continues on I-95 in Philadelphia as businesses rebound from closure

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- PennDOT officials are sharing new details on the work to create a permanent fix to I-95 following a fiery collapse earlier this year that left one person dead in Philadelphia.

PennDOT says demolition is still underway and will continue for the next seven weeks.

Sweet Lucy's BBQ on State Street in Tacony is getting back to normal.

SEE ALSO: NTSB releases preliminary report on deadly I-95 collapse in Philadelphia

The National Transportation Safety Board's brief report outlined what happened on June 11, when an elevated section of Interstate-95 collapsed after the tanker truck caught fire underneath it. It largely confirmed what state officials said earlier.

Restaurants took a big hit after a portion of the I-95 overpass that collapsed on June 11.

"We were probably down about 50% in business because we get a lot of local business customers and people working around here," said Brooke Higgins, owner of Sweet Lucy's BBQ.

Right off I-95 sits Sharkey's Grill and Ale House, another beloved restaurant that started to hemorrhage when traffic came to a screeching halt.

"Our numbers went from half of what we were doing. We still haven't recovered fully," said Chris Wilson, manager of Sharkey's.

SEE ALSO: I-95 reopens to traffic with temporary lanes 12 days after collapse, tanker fire

Six temporary lanes are carrying traffic on Interstate 95 through the city's Tacony section.

The manager says he believes people are still afraid to come down this way.

"Everything is open. Traffic is flowing. It's like we're back to normal," said Wilson.

We caught up with PennDOT's Deputy Communications Director Brad Rudolph to see how the construction is going. He says once demolition is done, they can start building the outer lanes.

"Eventually, sometime this winter, we will switch traffic to the newly constructed outer lanes. So three lanes in each direction, so that will stay the same," said Rudolph.

PennDOT says Governor Josh Shapiro expedited the construction of the steel beams from nine months to just two months.

"We also hope to reopen Cottman Avenue, the off-ramp, to at least a one-lane staged construction traffic pattern in the spring of 2024," said Rudolph.

PennDOT says the entire $25 to $30 million project should be complete by June of 2024, and they don't anticipate any further disruptions to businesses in the area. But say if they do, they will communicate those changes.

SEE ALSO: Philadelphia sports teams help daughter of tanker driver killed in I-95 collapse

Action News has learned that the Flyers, Eagles, 76ers, Union and Phillies have joined together to donate $50,000 into a trust for Nathaniel Moody's daughter.