A flat-bed truck driver, unaware of his clearance height, knocked the bridge off its foundation with his back-hoe truck load.

30 October 2011

Downed Overpass Section to be Restored

Lloydminster Alberta - Lloydminster's toothless grin will have to wait a few more days before its filling is in place.
 
Canadian Pacific Railway spokesperson Mike Lovecchio said the section of the overpass that was knocked off the bridge on 11 Oct 2011 is almost ready to be fixed.
 
"There was enough damage that repairs were required," said Lovecchio. "It is a single steel span and it was deemed salvageable by the engineers who inspected it."
 
The overpass collapsed after an eastbound truck carrying an over-height back hoe collided with the bridge. The collision knocked a section of the overpass off the pillars and onto the back of the trailer bed, narrowly missing the truck's cab.
 
After the span was removed from the scene of the collision it was taken to Edmonton where it is currently being repaired.
 
"Once repairs are complete, it will be returned to Lloydminster," said Lovecchio. "The highway will need to be closed while the span is reinstalled."
 
The repairs are now complete and installation of the section of the bridge is scheduled to start on 1 Nov 2011.
 
The section of highway around the overpass will be closed that day.
 
Once the span is reinstalled CP employees will reconnect the train tracks, ensure everything is appropriately safe, meets the rail company's standards, and return the track to service.
 
"It certainly adds complexity," said Lovecchio. "We're working closely with our customers to make sure they get their shipments in a timely manner."
 
Lovecchio said drivers should be situationally aware of their surroundings, whether at an at-grade rail crossing, or at a bridge.
 
"This incident was easily preventable," said Lovecchio. "The highway is well marked, the height was on the sign, and if the truck driver had been aware of the height of his load he could have detoured around the bridge and this wouldn't have happened."
 
Murray Crawford.