A small crane truck has struck the pedestrian and cycling bridge at the corner of Atkins and Six Mile roads near Thetis Lake in View Royal.
Some damage is visible on the Galloping Goose Trail bridge. Emergency crews including View Royal Fire Rescue and West Shore RCMP were called to the scene late Wednesday morning.
According to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, ministry officials and maintenance contractors remain on-site to complete a full assessment of the damage and will work to rehabilitate the bridge as needed.
“Given the hundreds of commercial vehicles that move across the Greater Victoria area every week, infrastructure strikes are actually quite uncommon,” the ministry said in an email.
“These infrequent incidents typically occur when commercial drivers either do not get an oversize permit, or there is a permit but the prescribed routes aren’t followed.”
The bridge has since been re-opened to pedestrians and cyclists, however, the Town of View Royal said Six Mile Road will remain closed to traffic for a few hours. Drivers are being asked to use alternate routes and avoid the area if possible. It is expected to re-open around 4:30 p.m.
Crews continue to assess the damage done to the overpass and the vehicle. #yyj pic.twitter.com/g9ewGmrnF2
— Goldstream Gazette (@GoldstreamNews) June 13, 2018
Pedestrian/cyclists: Please avoid the Galloping Goose bridge over Six Mile Rd in View Royal due to MVI. The GG bridge is closed to traffic. #yyjtraffic
— West Shore RCMP (@WestshoreRCMP) June 13, 2018
Traffic alert update: Six Mile Rd will be CLOSED to traffic for a few hours due to the earlier incident with the Galloping Goose trestle bridge being struck by a crane truck. Please use alternate routes and avoid the area if possible #yyjtraffic
— Town of View Royal (@TownofViewRoyal) June 13, 2018