Truck load scrapes Highway 1 overpass in Abbotsford

The load on a flatbed truck scraped the No. 3 Road overpass over Highway 1 in Abbotsford, DriveBC confirmed Tuesday.

The agency tells CityNews a wooden crate the truck was transporting “did make contact” with the overpass. However, it notes there’s no structural damage.

This is the first overpass to be hit this year in the Lower Mainland, and follows a series of other similar incidents across the region last year.

Just last week, a truck carrying an oversized load hit the 112th Street overpass over Highway 99 in Delta, leaving behind “significant damage.”

There have been over 30 overpass crashes in 24 months.

In December, the province announced tougher action to reduce the number of overpass and infrastructure crashes involving large trucks, with increased fines and penalties.

Amendments to regulations under the Commercial Transport and Motor Vehicle acts will take effect in June.

“We know that the vast majority of commercial drivers in B.C. operate safely and responsibly. However, incidents like this are why we’re taking tougher action to deter commercial vehicle collisions with bridges, overpasses or other highway infrastructure,” the Ministry of Transportation said.

The ministry notes these kinds of incidents “have a huge impact,” not just on commuters, but also on first responders and the movement of goods and services.

Meanwhile, a separate incident on Highway 1 eastbound, near the overpass but not involving the infrastructure, has the left lane blocked, leading to heavy traffic.

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