Friday鈥檚 blast of winter weather caused dozens of vehicles to be damaged by ice and snow falling from Lower Mainland bridges.
As of about 3 p.m., ICBC had received 67 claims related to ice falling from three of the region鈥檚 bridges 鈥� 41 from the Port Mann, 24 from the Alex Fraser and two from the Golden Ears Bridge.
鈥淲e鈥檝e seen a significant increase in call volume to our Dial-A-Claim. It鈥檚 too early for us to say how much of an increase we鈥檝e received,鈥� said ICBC representative Lindsay Wilkins.
The Alex Fraser Bridge was this morning while police and Ministry of Transportation staff assessed the situation, before reopening one lane northbound and two lanes southbound shortly before noon.
Ice removal collars were released throughout the storm to clear accumulated snow and ice from the cables on the Port Mann Bridge, but high winds this morning prevented ministry staff from safely deploying the cable collars on the Alex Fraser.
Our staff and maintenance crews have been closely monitoring onsite at both the Alex Fraser and Port Mann bridges throughout the night and today. High winds this morning prevented our rope access technicians from safely deploying the cable collars on the Alex Fraser Bridge.
鈥� BC Transportation (@TranBC)
鈥淢inistry staff have been onsite throughout the night and today, and are continuing to actively monitor the weather and conditions at both the Alex Fraser and Port Mann bridges until the storm event passes,鈥� according to a statement from the Ministry of Transportation Friday afternoon.
The ministry expects all lanes on both bridges to be open for the afternoon rush, citing 鈥渧ery little鈥� snow accumulation on the cables this afternoon.
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With more winter weather expected, here ICBC offer drivers the following winter driving tips:
鈥� Slow down 鈥� Posted speed limits are for ideal conditions only. Adjust your driving in winter conditions, and allow yourself at least twice the normal braking distance on snow-covered or slushy roads.
鈥� Headlights on 鈥� Use your headlights in poor weather and reduced visibility, not only at night, to help you see ahead and be seen by other drivers.
鈥� Watch for other road users 鈥� Look twice for pedestrians crossing the road particularly when visibility is poor.
鈥� Prevent a skid 鈥� Black ice is commonly found on roads with shaded areas, bridges, overpasses and intersections where car exhaust and packed snow freeze quickly. If you drive over black ice and start to skid, ease off the accelerator and look and steer smoothly in the direction you want to go. Don鈥檛 brake 鈥� this will make the situation worse. You may need to repeat this manoeuvre several times until you regain control.
鈥� Check your vehicle 鈥� for winter driving. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Check the condition of your windshield wiper blades and replace them if they鈥檙e worn out. Top up wiper fluid for clearer visibility and carry extra washer fluid in your vehicle. Fill up your gas tank. Pack an emergency kit and make sure it includes a flashlight and extra batteries.
鈥� Plan ahead 鈥� Check road and weather conditions on before heading out.
鈥� If you don鈥檛 feel confident about driving in winter conditions, staying off the road can be a less stressful and safer option. Instead of driving, you may want to consider taking public transit (if available), carpooling with a friend who鈥檚 a confident driver, taking a taxi or working from home.
If your vehicle has been damaged by falling ice, report it to ICBC鈥檚 Dial-a-Claim by calling 604-520-8222 or toll free: 1-800-910-4222 y鈥檙e open 24/7. Customers can also .
editor@northdeltareporter.com
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