PennDot turns to NASCAR to help reopen I-95 in Philly

With rain in the forecast, PennDot has turned to an unlikely partner to ensure I-95 can be reopened in Northeast Philadelphia by this weekend.

NASCAR sent a jet dryer from Pocono Raceway to Philadelphia on Thursday to help keep the highway’s reopening on schedule. The vehicle — a helicopter engine mounted on a red Chevy Silverado — is used to dry the racetrack after rain, and will be used to keep the newly-laid asphalt dry so crews can paint lines.

“We need patches of dry time in order to complete the paving, and really importantly, the striping process,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said on Fox29 Thursday morning, describing NASCAR’s help as a “super cool solution.”

“I said the other day it’s the ingenuity of Delco meets the grit of Philly. Let’s layer on top of that the ingenuity of Poconos Raceway, and the amazing guys at NASCAR up there helping us out on 95,” Shapiro added.

» READ MORE: When will I-95 reopen in Philadelphia? Here’s what we know.

The idea to use the dryer was the brainchild of PennDot Secretary Mike Carroll, who used to represent Monroe County in the Pennsylvania House and was a frequent visitor of the track. Carroll said it’s never been tried on a public roadway, as far as he knows.

“I don’t think anyone had this on a bingo card,” Carroll said.

The truck moves about 5 mph, and covers a swath of 3 to 6 feet. How effective it will be and how quickly the road will dry depends on a lot of factors, including potential road-ponding, how long the rain lasts, and how much moisture is in the air.

Ben May, president of Pocono Raceway, said it’s essential to keep the racetrack dry, since NASCAR tires don’t have treads. In order to maintain zero moisture on the track, May said the vehicle gives off “an immense amount of heat.”

“Don’t put your arm in front of it,” May warned.

Carroll said he has “a high level of confidence” the device will eliminate any weather-related delay in the repairs, “absent a Hurricane Agnes.”

The track’s Chevy Camaro pace car, which is used to maintain certain speeds during a race, escorted the jet dryer down to Philadelphia.

» READ MORE: I-95 repairs just another example of Delco ingenuity and Philly grit

Thursday and Friday morning should be generally dry and decent for making progress on the road repairs, said Eric Hoeflich, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service Office in Mount Holly.

However conditions are likely to deteriorate Friday afternoon, with downpours possible.

“We are a little concerned about flooding potential,” Hoeflich said.

Then, for the next several days, the atmosphere is likely to remain quite moist, which would inhibit drying due to muggier conditions, he said.