Straight Talk

Ice bombs damage vehicles on two of Metro Vancouver's busiest bridges

by Charlie Smith on December 5th, 2016 at 9:17 PM
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      Ice bombs have been crashing on vehicles crossing the Alex Fraser and Port Mann bridges after last night's snowfall.

      Patrick Livolsi, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure assistant deputy minister and professional engineer, said in a statement that the safety of drivers and travellers is "our top priority".

      “While it is rare for enough snow and ice to accumulate on the Alex Fraser Bridge because of the design of the bridge, we understand there have been reports of damaged vehicles while they were crossing that bridge today," Livolsi said. "We are also looking into reports of a small number of vehicles being damaged on the Port Mann Bridge.

      “We are looking into these reports and encourage any drivers who may have experienced damage to contact the ministry so that we can determine how it might have happened. We have been in touch with one driver who had windshield damage while crossing the Alex Fraser and we are working with the individual now."

      He noted that cable-sweepers on the Port Mann Bridge are in place "to clear the snow from the cables before ice has the chance to form".

      "This system limits the size of ice that could accumulate on the Port Mann Bridge’s cables and significantly reduces the chance of damage to vehicles," he stated.

      CKNW News quoted a motorist claiming to have seen ice bombs falling from cables holding up the Port Mann Bridge.

      Joe Hunt said “people were slowing down and trying to avoid" chunks of slush coming from above. But he wasn't so lucky.

      "It shattered the whole window and cracked it alongside the driver’s side as well,” Hunt told CKNW.

      Transportation Investment Corp. oversaw construction of the Port Mann Bridge. The Crown company is also responsible for operating and maintaining it.

      On the TI Corp. Twitter feed this morning, it said that "some slush could could come from above."

      Meanwhile, journalist Bob Mackin has tweeted that the 2008 tolling contract for the Port Mann Bridge included a no-ice-buildup clause.

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