When a section of I-95 collapsed in Philadelphia in June of 2023, it sent shockwaves across the East Coast. It wasn’t just a traffic nightmare—it was a vivid reminder of how vital infrastructure is to everyday movement. In response, crews worked around the clock, rebuilt the overpass in just 12 days, and had traffic flowing again before anyone thought possible.
That story mirrors what’s happening in commercial real estate today. The sector hit a speed bump—cooling after a high-growth sprint and a spike in interest rates —but instead of totally collapsing, commercial real estate is finding smarter, faster ways to rebuild momentum. Lenders and developers who adapt quickly can keep deals moving and avoid the gridlock that rising costs and uncertainty often bring.
Detours and Disruptions: I-95 and the CRE Journey
When I-95 collapsed in Philadelphia, commuters didn’t just stop driving—they found alternate routes. It was chaotic at first: longer drives, wrong turns, and unfamiliar backroads. But over time, people adapted. Traffic patterns shifted, businesses adjusted delivery windows, and city officials learned which pieces of infrastructure really mattered.
The same thing has happened across commercial real estate over the last three years.
The Collapse: Pandemic Shock
In 2020, the CRE world hit its own “overpass collapse.” Offices emptied overnight. Retail foot traffic disappeared. Industrial surged as e-commerce exploded. Lending paused, underwriting changed, and deal pipelines evaporated or rerouted.
The Detour: Finding New Paths
As with I-95, the CRE industry didn’t stop—it detoured. Lenders moved into asset classes they previously overlooked. Investors shifted from office and retail into industrial, healthcare, and multifamily. Borrowers restructured leases, added flexibility, and leaned into mixed-use innovation.
- Office? Shifted to hybrid space, coworking, or even conversion.
- Retail? Evolved into last-mile fulfillment or showroom hybrids.
- Industrial? The clear winner, but even it had to adapt to labor shortages, automation, and inflation.
From Bridge Collapse to Lending Confidence: What I‑95 Taught Us About CRE Risk
When I‑95 collapsed in 2023, crews moved fast—first with a temporary road using recycled materials, then with a permanent rebuild designed to last. It wasn’t just about getting traffic moving again—it was about doing it smarter, stronger, and faster than anyone thought possible.
That’s exactly what commercial real estate lenders need now.
After years of market volatility, lenders can’t rely on patchwork processes. They need fast, smart, end-to-end risk solutions.
How Baker Hill Radius Reinforce CRE Lending Strength
Baker Hill Radius powered by CREtelligent, delivers the financial structure—automated credit workflows, stress testing, and real-time portfolio insights—so you’re not just reacting to market shifts, you’re staying ahead of them. Now though with Baker Hill Radius, we bring the due diligence horsepower—environmental, valuation, zoning, flood, and site data—all in one platform. No delays, no juggling vendors. It’s everything under one roof, integrated right into the lending workflow.
Together, it’s like having the bridge AND the engineering team—built fast, built right, and built to handle whatever’s coming down the road.
Final Word: Build Fast. Lend Smart. Stay Ahead.
The I‑95 rebuild wasn’t just impressive—it was a blueprint for how to tackle disruption with speed, innovation, and strength. That’s exactly what today’s CRE lenders need.
With Baker Hill powering your credit workflows and Radius delivering all-in-one due diligence, you’re not stuck navigating detours—you’re building express lanes to faster, safer, more confident lending.
No bottlenecks. No blind spots. Just better deals, done faster.
Let’s get you in the fast lane.
Check out more on CRE:
Baker Hill Radius: Smarter CRE Lending | Baker Hill
Commercial Loan Origination Software (LOS) | Lending Software
