Pete Buttigieg Warns I-95 Bridge Collapse Could Drive Up Cost of Goods

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg warned that the highway backup caused by the collapse of a bridge on I-95 would have an “outsized” impact on the flow of goods up the vital highway—potentially raising cost.

Because of the re-routes caused by the disaster, truckers must now travel longer, pricier routes. 

“Part of what goes into the cost of everything that we pay for at the store is the cost of shipping,” Buttigieg said Tuesday.  “And if a route is disrupted, or if it's longer, or trucks have to wait, that finds its way into the cost of goods."

Buttigieg said he expected that the collapse will put “upward pressure” on costs along the East Coast and vowed to help the city of Philadelphia rebuild as quickly and safely as possible in order to minimize effects to commuters and supply chains. 

Of the roughly 160,000 vehicles that used the segment of destroyed highway per day, 8% were trucks carrying goods, he said. 

“That is a lot of America’s GDP moving along that road every single day.” 

The collapse happened Sunday morning after a commercial tanker truck carrying 8,500 gallons of 87-octane fuel swerved on its side and burst into flames burning down a segment of the highway, officials said. 

Demolition of the site is underway but reconstruction will take "several months," Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Sunday.

Buttigieg said he had not seen any sort of estimate of cost increases, but said the industry is working to make the most of alternative routes. 

“At the end of the day, there’s no substitute for I-95 being up and running in full working condition,” Buttigieg said.

With Associated Press reports