Ironworkers Memorial Bridge reopens, protesters arrested

Traffic off the North Shore on the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge was brought to a halt for about an hour Monday morning due to a protest.

All southbound lanes on the crossing were blocked by members of the Save Old Growth group, who were speaking out against logging practices in B.C.

Vancouver police confirmed just after 8:30 a.m. that all lanes had reopened, and that four people had been arrested, with charges of mischief and blocking the roadway expected to be recommended.

#VPDScanner Four protesters were arrested for blocking rush-hour traffic on the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge this morning. The protesters are being taken to jail and will face multiple charges related to mischief and blocking the roadway. #VPD thanks commuters for their patience. pic.twitter.com/7Pv8nn5O7F

— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) April 4, 2022

According to the North Vancouver RCMP, three vehicles that were blocking the bridge were also towed.

The three vehicles have now been towed and the roadway is clear. Heavy traffic backups are causing significant delays. Please consider alternate routes.

— North Vancouver RCMP (@nvanrcmp) April 4, 2022

The bridge protest came alongside other demonstrations and traffic disruptions in other cities in the province, including Victoria.

In the B.C. capital, police say traffic is no longer disrupted in the area of Douglas and Finlayson streets, with officers saying three arrests were made in connection with the protest there.

UPDATE | Officers arrested three people for mischief for blocking the road.#yyjtraffic is no longer disrupted in the area of Douglas St & Finlayson St.

Thank you for your patience. #yyj https://t.co/xQwpl1qt1M

— Victoria Police (@vicpdcanada) April 4, 2022

This is not the first time members of the group have blocked the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge. On Jan. 31, a group of people blocked traffic along the span with a sit down protest.

Save Old Growth says more than two dozen people were arrested as a result of the disruptions. However, that doesn’t seem to have deterred the group, which says it “had paused to give the government time to pass legislation.”

“However there has been no action or statement from the government and so disruption of the highway will resume at an escalated intensity, starting this morning,” Save Old Growth said in a statement early Monday.

“On our current path, we are looking at the destruction of our society, the economy and the loss of many many more lives, right here in BC, in the next 10 to 20 years. The government has known this for decades and done nothing to safeguard our future,” said Julia, a spokesperson for the group.

Traffic to and from the North Shore remains heavy along Highway 1. You can take the Lions Gate Bridge as an alternate route.

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