Truck hits overpass at north end of Iron Workers Memorial Bridge

Commuters are being told to expect some minor delays when using the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge after a truck struck an overpass in North Vancouver on Friday morning.

Police said the commercial vehicle struck the overpass around 9:30 a.m.

The truck was found stopped on the shoulder of the highway, just south of the Main Street on-ramp.

“Officers attended the scene learned that a grader being transported on a flat deck tractor trailer had struck the Main Street overpass,” said Sgt. Vanessa Munn in a news release.

“Upon inspection, minor superficial damage to the overpass was observed as well as damage to the cab of the grader.”

RCMP and the officers of the province’s Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement team were on scene and will determine appropriate penalties.

Last spring, the province had introduced harsher penalties for commercial truck drivers who hit overpasses and bridges, such as fines of up to $100,000 and possible jail time of up to 18 months. The penalties targeted drivers but not the trucking companies hiring them.

Other measures undertaken by the province to ensure compliance included 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.

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