BURST
Motorists can expect delays on Highway 1 eastbound in Surrey after a truck hit an overpass on Wednesday morning.
RCMP say the overpass has been visibly damaged and needs to be checked to ensure it’s safe.
Police were called just before 9:30 a.m. by motorists who witnessed the overpass strike. Witnesses told RCMP that a truck hit the overpass while towing an excavator on a flat-deck trailer.
The eastbound right lane was shut down and motorists should expect delays, police said.
Overpass strikes by trucks from various companies with overheight loads — 74 in the past four years — are a significant issue for the province, which has increased potential penalties, with fines up to $100,000 and potential jail time of up to 18 months.
Other measures undertaken by the province to ensure compliance include escalating consequences for companies whose drivers commit repeat offences. In some cases, repeat infractions could result in a suspension of the company’s entire fleet of trucks.
Commercial drivers are responsible for knowing the load size they’re towing, sticking to predetermined routes and ensuring the load is properly secured.
With files from Gordon Hoekstra