Metro Vancouver Road Infrastructure Discussion

[whatnext]

Wow, what a cl*sterf*ck! I was driving back from White Rock into the city at rush hour. Southbound Oak was backed up solid from 41st to the bridge. East-west streets like 57th were backed up each way with cars trying to turn at Oak. If you have to go to YVR definitely find a way to take the train!

YVR should really push for that bridge from Sea Island to the West Side.

[jollyburger]

The CTV story seems to have a photo of the crane. It looks like it was 2-3 times taller than the deck of the bridge.



https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/art...c-disruptions/

It's blue so I'm guessing it's from Vancouver Pile Driving

https://carlsonconstructiongroup.com...-pile-driving/

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

The CTV story seems to have a photo of the crane. It looks like it was 2-3 times taller than the deck of the bridge…

https://carlsonconstructiongroup.com...-pile-driving/

Which makes you wonder WTF was wrong with the barge crew! This isn’t a slightly oveheight truck meeting an overpass.

[Vantage]

Seems like a pretty embarrassing mistake if the crane really is as tall as it appears in that photo.

[giallo]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Not content with taking out overpasses they're now trying to take out bridges!

Barge collision with Arthur Laing Bridge sparks traffic chaos in Vancouver
Daniel Chai
Feb 13 2026, 10:05 am

An overnight barge strike of the Arthur Laing Bridge triggered major traffic delays during the morning commute in Vancouver on Friday, with YVR warning passengers of travel delays.

According to Staff Sgt. Simon Lee of the Richmond RCMP, police received a call on Feb. 13, around 12:38 a.m., that a barge had collided with the Arthur Laing Bridge...

... “Currently one southbound lane of the bridge is closed and while both northbound lanes are open, delays are possible in that direction as well,” announced YVR online. “Engineering assessments are being done to facilitate repairs and further updates will be provided....

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/arth...arge-collision

Unfortunately got caught up in the mess taking someone to the airport. The barge must have bee carrying a crane or something as the railing on the west side was completely mangled.

I was stuck in this nightmare this morning.

I was driving a friend to the airport, and Marine Drive was almost at a standstill. It took 25 minutes to go 100m. I finally made it to Heather St., and turned off. I managed to get her to Marine Gateway Station, where she just made her flight. It was so stressful.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

The CTV story seems to have a photo of the crane. It looks like it was 2-3 times taller than the deck of the bridge.

Are you sure that's the crane that hit the bridge and not the crane that's fixing the bridge?

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

Are you sure that's the crane that hit the bridge and not the crane that's fixing the bridge?

The pictures showed the offending barge with crane. As mentioned the railing of the bridge near mid span was badly damaged and that could only have been done by something tall.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by whatnext

The pictures showed the offending barge with crane. As mentioned the railing of the bridge near mid span was badly damaged and that could only have been done by something tall.

The news article that @jollyburger quoted shows the picture without any comment on what it is. So it's not self-evident to me that the crane in the picture is the crane that struck the bridge. And it seems entirely plausible to me that another crane may have been brought onsite in order to assist in repairs.

I'm not claiming that the pictured crane is not the offending one, just pointing out that it's possible that it isn't. Accepting claims at face value without considering alternatives is the opposite of "critical thinking". I prefer not to join in with the angry mob before I understand what's really going on.

It's obvious that something tall struck the bridge, but I'm having a hard time imagining that the pile driving company whose barge struck the bridge would have made such a dumb mistake with a crane that's so ridiculously overheight. It could be, for example, that there was some unforeseeable issue such as a tow line breaking or a tug whose engine failed that led to the accident.

Or it could be gross incompetence. Let's wait and see before rushing to judgement.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

The news article that @jollyburger quoted shows the picture without any comment on what it is. So it's not self-evident to me that the crane in the picture is the crane that struck the bridge. And it seems entirely plausible to me that another crane may have been brought onsite in order to assist in repairs.

I'm not claiming that the pictured crane is not the offending one, just pointing out that it's possible that it isn't. Accepting claims at face value without considering alternatives is the opposite of "critical thinking". I prefer not to join in with the angry mob before I understand what's really going on.

It's obvious that something tall struck the bridge, but I'm having a hard time imagining that the pile driving company whose barge struck the bridge would have made such a dumb mistake with a crane that's so ridiculously overheight. It could be, for example, that there was some unforeseeable issue such as a tow line breaking or a tug whose engine failed that led to the accident.

Or it could be gross incompetence. Let's wait and see before rushing to judgement.

They said the tug and barge were being towed to an industrial site in New Westminster so unless the crane magically raised on its own then I'm leaning towards dumb mistake versus a line breaking/engine failure.

Someone said they were doing foreshore work at the Fraser River Park.

https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreatio...rovements.aspx

https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver....e-20251017.pdf

The tender was for "Contractor for Repair of Structures at Fraser River Park"

Not sure who it was awarded to.

[jollyburger]

FIFA World Cup 26 Vancouver™ Special Use Lane Designation

The proposed designation, in effect from June 11 to July 19, 2026, would support the efficient
movement of FIFA-accredited constituent groups during the tournament. Allowing these vehicles
to use existing special use lanes will help maintain reliable travel times and reduce pressure on
traffic lanes.
Because several of the City’s special use lanes fall within 800 metres of an arterial highway,
ministerial approval is required before this designation can take effect. Therefore, this report
contains a recommendation for staff to seek the necessary approval from the BC Minister of
Transportation and Transit, as required under section 124.2(2) of the Motor Vehicle Act. Overall,
this temporary measure will help the City meet mobility obligations under the HCA while
minimizing broader transportation impacts.

https://council.vancouver.ca/20260224/documents/r5.pdf

[jollyburger]

Hopefully CVSE pulls up.



https://x.com/DriveBC/status/2026340...124473/photo/1

[jollyburger]

‘Not sexy, but fundamental:’ Vancouver council boosts budget for roads, sidewalks by $70M

Vancouver council was unanimous Tuesday in approving a motion from Mayor Ken Sim that directs staff to include $104 million in the next capital plan to restore the city’s many roads and sidewalks in poor condition.

The $104 million for the 2027-2031 capital plan will be a significant increase from the $34 million in the 2023-2026 plan, which is not keeping pace with the work required to repair roads and sidewalks.

“This council is committed to listening to Vancouverites and going back to basics, and to funding our road and sidewalk repairs to the level that they need to be at,” Sim said in introducing his motion.

Council had just heard a presentation from engineering staff about the condition of Vancouver’s roads and sidewalks. More than 60 per cent of Vancouver’s arterial roads and local streets are considered in fair to very poor condition.

https://www.biv.com/news/economy-law...y-70m-11921125

[Migrant_Coconut]

Might not have been a good idea to decimate the engineering department then...?

[jollyburger]

Road closures for FIFA game days



https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...-cup-9.7104777

[officedweller]

At least the viaducts provide a route into downtown from the east without having to brave the DTES.

[WarrenC12]

Is Mainland going to host some outdoor parties or something? I see no other reason to close it like that. The full closure down to Quebec/Terminal area is a bit weird too. Concord park hosting parties?

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Is Mainland going to host some outdoor parties or something? I see no other reason to close it like that. The full closure down to Quebec/Terminal area is a bit weird too. Concord park hosting parties?

Don't they want everyone not going to the game to go to the fan festival?

[idunno]

Pedestrianizing Mainland should be an all summer thing anyways! Good to trial it out when there are way more people walking around the downtown core for FIFA.

[Vantage]

Presumably because Mainland is near to the stadium and has lots of eating and drinking establishments. It's a one lane, one way street, I see no reason not to close it to traffic.

[jollyburger]

New signage is being installed in areas including the River District, the West End’s Denman West, Grandview-Woodland, Mount Pleasant, the Downtown Eastside and Strathcona, and the St. George’s neighbourhood near Dunbar Street.

Mayor Ken Sim says the change from 50 km/h to 30 km/h is about protecting “kids walking to school, families out for a stroll, and seniors crossing the street in our neighbourhoods.”

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2026/0...eighbourhoods/