Tractor-trailer catches fire at toll plaza for I-476, Pa. Turnpike interchange

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A tractor-trailer caught fire at the Mid-County Interchange in Plymouth Meeting early Wednesday morning, closing the northbound side of I-476 for several hours.

The fire started shortly after 3 a.m. in the E-ZPass lane, between Exit 20 of I-476 and the exit to get to I-276 East (Pennsylvania Turnpike). Heavy flames raged and smoke poured out.

Emergency crews responded to the scene, where they extinguished the fire and got the situation under control. The tractor-trailer was left smoldering and charred.

For a while, all of the northbound lanes leading up to the toll plaza were closed and traffic was diverted onto Plymouth Road and Germantown Pike. After a few hours, crews reopened the two right toll lanes.

Police and Pennsylvania Turnpike officials did not immediately release the cause of the fire. There were no initial reports of any injuries. Crews are still on the scene making sure no hot spots pop up.

A Pennsylvania Turnpike spokesperson said, “The [E-ZPass] high-speed lanes remain closed but the normal toll lanes through the toll booths remain open with heavy traffic backup near the interchange.”

The spokesperson also said there was "some minor damage to equipment that was repaired. Engineering inspected the gantry structure and it determined it was fine.”