Benjamin Franklin Freeway Suffers Second Overturned Truck This Month

Two of the westbound Benjamin Franklin lanes heading into Philadelphia were closed due to an overturned truck.

Philly is reporting that approximately 6 a.m. EST, a truck and trailer was heading westbound on the Ben Franklin, travelling at excessive speed. As it rounded the small curve, the driver lost control and the truck and trailer both fell on its driver’s side, blocking the westbound lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Freeway.

The Delaware Port Authority reported that all lanes had been reopened by 9:45 a.m. EST. The truck had been uprighted by 9:00 a.m., but cleanup took another 45 minutes.

The accident caused major backups for travelers and for the new bus service between Camden, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.

The backup went all the way to the base of the Benjamin Franklin bridge.

CBS Philly is reporting that the truck blocked the two lanes heading into Center City, Philadelphia, for those that use the Benjamin Franklin Freeway to get to the Vine Street Expressway. Two people were taken to a local hospital for undisclosed reasons. There is no word on their condition.

Traffic was also blocked across the bridge and past the toll plaza on the New Jersey side. Drivers were asked to use the Betsy Ross or Walt Whitman bridge to avoid the accident scene.

Speed restrictions were already in place because of the weather. The electronic speed limit had already been adjusted to reflect the wet roads.

This is not the first instance that police have had to deal with. On March 19 of this year, in roughly the same spot as this spill, a fruit truck filled with kiwi fruit spilled over, causing major delays. Recovery, offloading, and cleanup took more than 14 hours to complete. Motorists were forced to use alternate routes because of the massive time delay.

It is believed that excessive speed was the reason for both trucks crashing. In that belief, John Hanson, Chief Executive Director for the Delaware River Port Authority, will begin looking into the issue.

“I’ve asked our chief of police to step up enforcement on the speed limit, and also truck enforcement,” he said.

The regularly posted speed limit on the bridge is usually 45 mph (though it can be changed depending on weather and other traffic issues). The posted speed limit on the eastbound side entering Camden is 20 mph. Hanson wants to know why there isn’t a similar sign on the westbound side as you enter Center City, Philadelphia. Hanson will investigate this further.

[Image courtesy of Philly]