Latest news with #JoelSanchez
CTV News
5 days ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Four of six girders under Whoop-Up Drive bridge damaged: City of Lethbridge
The City of Lethbridge says two-thirds of the Whoop-Up Drive bridge's girders have been damaged after a semi-truck hauling a large piece of construction machinery hit it and got stuck last week. The City of Lethbridge says two-thirds of the Whoop-Up Drive bridge's girders have been damaged after a semi-truck hauling a large piece of construction machinery hit it and got stuck last week. 'Our engineering crews continue to monitor the girders on a daily basis,' said Joel Sanchez, director of infrastructure services with the City of Lethbridge. 'We actually have staff going to the site and doing the measures and inspecting the girders and that information (is) related and conveyed to the experts, which again I want to stress that they are some of the top experts in bridge maintenance in Canada.' Sanchez says four of the six girders that support the roadway are damaged. 'Until we have all the tests and analysis that the engineers are completing, we won't have a final answer in terms of how much the damage is and how long it's going to take to repair,' he said. The City of Lethbridge says two-thirds of the Whoop-Up Drive bridge's girders have been damaged after a semi-truck hauling a large piece of construction machinery hit it and got stuck last week. The City of Lethbridge says two-thirds of the Whoop-Up Drive bridge's girders have been damaged after a semi-truck hauling a large piece of construction machinery hit it and got stuck last week. On Aug. 6, a semi-truck hauling a scraper was driving to a construction site on the west side when it took a wrong turn into Indian Battle Park before striking the bridge and becoming stuck, according to Lethbridge police. It took several hours for crews and engineers to remove the semi-truck, with metal supports being installed to ensure the bridge's stability. As of Tuesday, one lane of westbound traffic on Whoop-Up Drive remains open, along with two eastbound lanes. Two westbound lanes were closed as part of the bridge rehabilitation project prior to the incident. Starting on Wednesday, the city says the Scenic Drive northbound to Whoop-Up westbound ramp will be closed to reduce traffic volume. Drivers are being encouraged to use Highway 3. 'We're all getting to the west side, and it's frustrating that it's taking the time that it is, but everybody that is waiting there is going through the same thing, so we just ask that you be respectful,' said Mayor Blaine Hyggen. Effective immediately, heavy load trucks, excluding standard pickups, are temporarily restricted from crossing westbound Whoop-Up Drive. The city says the restriction has been made out of an abundance of caution. Traffic lights along Scenic Drive have been co-ordinated for maximum efficiency, according to the city. The city says the cost of repairs will be covered by insurance and other avenues. 'I don't see that being anything to do with taxation from our citizens,' said Hyggen. Lethbridge police have charged the truck driver with failing to ascertain sufficient space for movement. The city says the situation is fluid, and further road closures and traffic disruptions could happen. 'The lanes that are open still remain safe according to the advice that we have received from the experts,' said Sanchez.
Global News
08-08-2025
- Automotive
- Global News
Truck driver charged in Whoop-Up Drive bridge collision
On Wednesday, a semi-truck hauling construction equipment on a flatbed trailer collided with the underside of the Whoop-Up Drive bridge, causing significant damage to both the truck's haul and bridge itself. On Thursday, the Lethbridge Police Service announced the driver of the truck had been charged with failing to ascertain sufficient space for movement. Police say additional charges are pending. 'The driver contacted police immediately, who attended and closed the east and west lanes of Whoop Up Drive. The bridge was reopened later that morning, with fewer lanes operational. The bridge remains open currently, with fewer lanes operational while City of Lethbridge crews continue to assess the damage and determine next steps.' 1:06 Underpass collision shuts down major artery road in Lethbridge The City of Lethbridge says it's too early to tell what kind of damage they are dealing with, or how much the repairs could cost. Story continues below advertisement 'We're just taking pictures and taking measurements and assessment in order to send that back (to engineers),' said Joel Sanchez, the director of infrastructure services at the City of Lethbridge. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy While there is still a lot to learn, Sanchez says the bridge is indeed safe to drive on and crews are monitoring the condition of the road daily. 'At this point, the lanes that we have open on the bridge is safe. We have taken all the measures that we can in order to ensure that visual inspections and even some different measures are being put in place to assess daily.' Additionally, supports were placed under the bridge as a precaution that, so far, hasn't been necessary. 'Yesterday, when the truck was being pulled out of the site, we needed to ensure that there was some support for the structure in case, when we moved it out, anything was going to shift, which didn't happen. (The supports are) going to remain there in place, it's part of the precautionary measures we're trying to do,' said Sanchez. As a result, Botteril Bottom Road South will remain closed in the area of the bridge until further notice. City crews working at the water treatment plant will gain access via a service road, but general traffic is not currently permitted. The big impact to road conditions lays above the bridge, however. Whoop-Up Drive is one of the busiest roads in Lethbridge, with tens of thousands of vehicles traversing it every day. Both the City of Lethbridge and Lethbridge police have indicated a traffic plan for the foreseeable future. Story continues below advertisement The loop from northbound Scenic Drive onto Whoop-Up Drive will be reopened Westbound 6 Avenue onto Whoop-Up Drive will be reopened There will be zipper merge locations for westbound traffic, as motorists from 6 Avenue and the northbound Scenic Drive offramp merge That traffic will then merge with traffic from the southbound Scenic Drive off-ramp To increase capacity and reduce delays, we are also adjusting eastbound Whoop-Up Drive lanes by moving the inside lane closure closer to the bridge Both eastbound and westbound Whoop-Up Drive lanes will be fully opened after the bridge decks in each direction As a result of these changes, the city says drivers should add extra time to their commute to help reduce frustration due to delays, select alternate routes, such as the Highway 3 bridge, reduce speed and follow all posted signage. When it comes to where the money will come from to fix the damage, Sanchez says all options are on the table, even if it's not quite clear yet. 'I don't have all the answers for that at this time. Typically we will first need to get the extent of the damage to move to the next step, which could be an insurance claim, it could be any other option. It's too early to define.' The city says additional updates will be provided when they become available.
