ICBC study indicates Pattullo Bridge most dangerous

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SURREY, B.C. — An internal analysis of the Pattullo Bridge by the Insurance Corp. of B.C. (ICBC) has revealed that it is the most dangerous bridge in the Lower Mainland.

More than 400 collisions a year take place on the 65-year-old structure, and ICBC shells out $2.8 million in claims each year as a result of those accidents.

Engineers reviewing the design of the bridge say it is too narrow to accommodate today’s semi trucks that frequently cross the bridge. Lanes are just 3.05 metres wide, as opposed to today’s standards of 3.65 metres in width.

Trucks are often forced to swing into oncoming traffic in order to navigate the bridge’s curve.

"Move 12 inches and you’re in the oncoming traffic lane," warns Surrey RCMP Const. Tim Shields when talking to local media.

TransLink is responsible for the bridge, and the agency is considering options such as installing reflective lane markings, rumble strips and repaving the bridge. TransLink says it is also considering a narrow centre line barrier to prevent vehicles from crossing into oncoming traffic.

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  • This is bullshit – all the time I was growing up, the weight limit on the bridge was GVW5000. Now, because some jackass thinks it’s a great shortcut, semi’s and heavy loads are regularly driven over the bridge, and are the main cause of damage to the deck itself as well as many of the accidents. Since the Port Mann and the Alex Fraser are both built to handle the heavier traffic and the Highway 17 is specifically a truck route, there is absolutely no reason for ANY heavy traffic to be on the Pattullo. It’s digusting to see nobody in local government is able to see the same thing, but would rather waste good money after bad on needless repairs (if transit was managed properly)