If you use I-95 in Philadelphia for your morning commute, brace yourself for your worst nightmare.

The interstate is shut down in both direction smack dab in the middle of the city. Officials took the drastic action last night after a crack was found in a support column on the center portion of the expressway between the Girard Avenue and Allegheny Avenue interchanges.

Here’s what you need to know. The interstate is closed in both directions between Girard and Aramingo avenues.

It could remain closed for several days while repairs are made to the steel-reinforced support columns. Work is expected to start this morning.

As you might expect, traffic in the city, no bargain most weekday mornings, is an absolute mess in the area of the shutdown. Traffic already is backing up for miles on I-95.

Here are the detours being suggested by PennDOT:

TRUCKS: Large trucks traveling on I-95 will be detoured over Interstate 676 (Exit 22), Interstate 76, Route 1/Roosevelt Boulevard and Route 63/Woodhaven Road (35).

NORTHBOUND CARS: Northbound motorists driving conventional vehicles will exit I-95 at Girard Avenue (Exit 23) and then bear left onto Aramingo Avenue. They will follow Aramingo Avenue to Castor Avenue, turn right at Castor Avenue and then turn right at the ramp to I-95 North.

SOUTHBOUND CARS: Southbound motorists driving conventional vehicles will exit I-95 at Betsy Ross Bridge/Aramingo Avenue (Exit 26), then turn right at Aramingo Avenue and follow Aramingo Avenue to the I-95 South on-ramp at the Girard Avenue Interchange.

The following ramps to I-95 also will be closed during the emergency interstate closure. They are the:
 * I-676 East ramp to I-95 North
 * Lombard Street ramp to I-95 North
 * Girard Avenue ramp to I-95 North
 * Race Street ramp to I-95 North
 * Allegheny Avenue ramp to I-95 South
 * Betsy Ross Bridge ramp to I-95 South
 * Bridge Street ramp to I-95 South.

Maybe more than ever, drivers are going to need patience, something that’s usually in short supply on the roadways.

Hey, let’s all take a deep breath and relax. If you have to use I-95, brace yourself. It’s not going to be easy. You’ll get there eventually. The key is to get there. Don’t anything foolish.