I-676 Closed Through Thursday Afternoon Due To Stuck Barge

PHILADELPHIA — A portion of Interstate 676 in Philadelphia will be closed until at least Thursday afternoon due to a barge that got loose during Tuesday's flooding and struck the Vine Street Expressway Bridge, PennDOT said.

The incident led officials to close I-676 between the Broad Street (Route 611) and Interstate 76 interchanges.

PennDOT bridge engineers are inspecting the structure to ensure the bridge is structurally sound.

Even if the bridge inspection finds no structural damage, eastbound and westbound I-676 will remain closed until at least Thursday afternoon when the Schuylkill River is expected to recede to the point where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can work to dislodge the barge from the structure.

During the closure, drivers should take the following alternate routes for travel in this area of Philadelphia:

• Motorists heading to New Jersey:
  • Take I-76 East to the Walt Whitman Bridge;
• I-76 motorists heading to Center City:
  • Exit at the Spring Garden Street or South Street interchanges;
• I-95 South motorists:
  • Travel to Exit 19 and follow Front Street to Pattison Avenue to Broad Street to the I-76 West entrance ramp; and
• I-95 North traffic:
  • Follow I-95 North to I-76 West.

SEPTA canceled all Regional Rail service at about 6 a.m. due to the incident. SEPT later resumed service on all lines.