Barge-damaged Metro Vancouver bridge to remain closed ‘until further notice,’ TransLink says

TransLink says damage to the bridge is more extensive than first thought, and it’s now unclear when the bridge can reopen.

The small community of Westham Island, which has had no vehicle access to the Lower Mainland since a barge struck its historic bridge earlier this week, will remain cut off, likely for several more weeks.

TransLink, which owns and maintains the Wesham Island Bridge, said in an update Thursday night that it does not have a “reliable timeline” for reopening the span.

“While early estimates suggest repairs could take several weeks, the schedule needs further refinement and will depend on a number of factors—including inspection findings, design requirements, materials availability, and permitting,” the transit authority said.

“We know residents and businesses need certainty, and we don’t want to provide a timeline until we can stand behind it. Safety will continue to guide every decision as we move forward.”

Located at the mouth of the Fraser River west of Delta, Westham Island is home to major farm businesses, a couple hundred people, and a wildlife conservation area.

The 116-year-old wooden bridge is the only roadway connecting the island to the rest of Delta.

While the span is open for pedestrian traffic, it has been closed to vehicles since the barge strike on Tuesday.

Speaking to CTV News earlier this week, Hugh Reyonlds of Reynelda Farms estimated there could be as much as $2 million worth of produce stuck on the island.

“Two, three thousand pounds of potatoes, beets,” Reynolds estimated Wednesday.

“The government has to stop allowing barges to go through this bridge.”

• Read more: $2M worth of produce potentially stuck on Westham Island amid bridge closure: farmer

TSB investigating

While TransLink works to determine the “full extent” of the damage to the bridge, the federal agency that investigates air, marine, rail and pipeline incidents has been deployed to the region.

In a brief statement Friday, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said it had dispatched investigators to Coquitlam “to investigate an occurrence that happened on Jan. 20, where the tug Quadrant Partner struck a bridge.”

While the TSB statement does not name the Westham Island Bridge, no other bridge strikes have been reported in Metro Vancouver on that date.

The TSB is an independent agency with the “sole aim” of advancing transportation safety. It does not assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability for the incidents it investigates.

TransLink said its crews “moved quickly to assess the damage and pursue the fastest possible repair,” but an updated assessment from a structural engineer scuttled the original repair plan.

The damage to the bridge is “more significant” than the transit provider initially believed, and the bridge will remain closed to vehicles “until further notice,” TransLink said.

Pedestrian access will be maintained “with ongoing monitoring,” according to the agency, which said its focus is on supporting the Westham Island community.

The City of Delta arranged shuttle buses for residents able to walk across shortly after the bridge was shut down to vehicle traffic, and TransLink added shuttle service on Wednesday.

“We understand how disruptive and stressful this situation is for the Westham Island community, particularly for residents and businesses who rely on the bridge every day,” TransLink said. “We remain committed to keeping the community informed and will share updates as soon as new information is confirmed.”

With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Martin MacMahon