Philadelphia commuters faced disruptions last week as emergency services tackled both natural and man-made hazards. A train car fire on Thursday afternoon necessitated the closure of the Falls Bridge and a portion of Kelly Drive, with CBS News Philadelphia reporting that fire hoses stretched across the Falls Bridge early Friday morning to reach the smoldering railcar near the Schuylkill River. By Friday afternoon, both the bridge and road had to suddenly reopen, signalling an easing of the earlier chaos.
Compounding the traffic snarl was a separate incident involving a water main break on Girard Avenue, which led to the closure of MLK Drive between Sweet Briar Drive and the Philadelphia Museum of Art at Eakins Oval, as reported by NBC10 Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Water Department expressed concerns over falling icicles, posing additional risks to vehicles below. These closures coincided with the ongoing firefighting efforts and added to the city’s logistical challenges.
In addition to Kelly Drive, a stretch of Ridge Avenue was also temporarily shut down as firefighters worked to extinguish the persistent hot spots from the train car fire, a situation that was further complicated by their need to pump water from across the bridge. No injuries were reported in connection with the fire, and officials have yet to determine the cause, according to NBC10 Philadelphia…