A dump truck has struck the Cambie Road overpass above Knight Street in Richmond, blocking all southbound lanes.
The Richmond RCMP says the incident happened around 7 a.m. Friday morning, after a vertically raised dump trailer attached to a commercial vehicle smashed into the overpass.
Mounties say the trailer was 「severed」 from the truck when it hit the overpass, and police found the vehicle a short distance away.
Police say no one reported being hurt, but the driver of the vehicle was 「uncooperative with investigators.」
Traffic is being detoured to Bridgeport Road. However, traffic is heavily backed up from Vancouver.
The Cambie Road overpass is also closed. Emergency crews are on scene, however, there is no slated time for reopening.
The City of Richmond hopes it can be reopened Friday, but can』t say definitively.
「Our crews and engineering staff are on it now. They recognize that we need to get this open as quickly as possible,」 city spokesperson Clay Adams told CityNews. 「At the same time, they have to ensure that it』s safe to reopen to both the traffic going over the bridge, and of course vehicles going underneath. We』re endeavouring to get that done as quickly as we can, once the trailer is removed.」『
Adams says the city is aware that incidents like this create headaches for commuters, but stresses it is a safety issue.
However, Adams notes the overpass was recently reinforced, giving some hope for a reopening sooner rather than later.
「We just have to make sure that it』s safe to reopen and we』ll do that as quickly as we possibly can.」
You can take the Oak Street Bridge as an alternative route.
Mounties say the Knight Street bridge deck, Cambie Road overpass, and any other nearby areas that may have been affected, are being structurally assessed.
Police are also asking anyone with dash-cam footage to call 604-278-1212 and quote file #2023-4381.
source:CityNews photo:RCMP
