Thanks to dozens of construction workers, temporary lanes have been created in wake of the partial collapse of I-95 in Philadelphia. For a much deserved celebration of its reopening, Xfinity Live! organized an I-95 Appreciation Event on Sunday with laborers, Governor Josh Shapiro, and Mayor Jim Kenney in attendance, writes Rosa Cartagena for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Many workers were pulling 18-hour days and their lunch breaks consisted of having “a shovel in one hand and a sandwich in the other,” according to Toni Harris of West Philly. Additionally, it was hard for families whose parents or significant others were gone all the time for repairs. But they kept hope because they knew they would get the job done.

“It was nice to see things progress on the livestream, I actually appreciated it,” said Adam Bratrude, a senior civil engineer from Phoenixville. “You often worry about being under the microscope like that, but it worked out quite nicely.”

As a thank you to construction workers, first responders, and other teams that worked intense hours, Gov. Shapiro prepared a speech and t-shirts for everyone.

“You inspired a city, a region, a commonwealth, and a country in showing them what hard work, what hard union work could lead to… when we all come together,” said Shapiro.

Read more about the celebration at The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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