Traffic chaos expected as Port Mann, expected, however, further, public, bridge

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Traffic chaos expected as Port Mann, Lougheed Highway reopened after closure
Hydro tower collapse closed bridge overnight



7:30 A.M. UPDATE - At 7:20 a.m. Sergeant Peter Thiessen said Highway 1 and the Port Mann Bridge had re-opened in both directions.


Highway 7 has also re-opened in both directions, the officer said.


United Boulevard in Coquitlam, however, remains closed until further notice, he said.


BC Hydro and police are "still dealing with public safety issues" caused by downed high-tension power wires along that stretch, Thiessen added.


Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts said she'll be looking for answers today from Hydro, telling CBC Radio that she has some concerns about the utility's infrastructure.


"We will get debriefed by Hydro later this morning and then we will move forward."


One eyewitness described the tower collapse on radio, saying that the house shook, and snapping and glass-breaking sounds could be heard.


"I was frightened but I wanted to make sure if anyone was hurt I wanted to help."


Power was knocked out immediately, the eyewitness said. The sound of broken glass came from the sound of power insulators smashed on the ground, the witness told the CBC's Early Edition.


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7 A.M. UPDATE - Commuters can expect major headaches on the roads and throughout much of the Metro Vancouver transit system this morning.


By 6:30 a.m. Highway 1 remained closed in both directions at the Cape Horn Interchange because of downed power lines in the vicinity of the Port Mann Bridge, according to a morning update on Drive BC.


No traffic can cross the Port Mann Bridge, the RCMP and TransLink reported in early morning releases.


An eastbound detour is available via Brunette Avenue to the Pattullo Bridge, and westbound commuters can take 160th Street to the Pattullo Bridge.


Highway 7 also remains closed in both directions from Brunette Avenue to Pitt River Road. Westbound commuters can bypass the closure by taking the Barnet Highway into Vancouver.


Those heading eastbound can take detour along Highway 7A through Port Coquitlam and onto Highway 1 via the Golden Ears Bridge.


Highway 7B remains closed in both directions 1.5 km east of the junction with United Boulevard in Coquitlam, also because of downed power lines.


Officials are cautiously estimating that the roads will reopen by 9 a.m.


Because of the road closures, TransLink is expecting extremely heavy transit volume throughout the system.

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A view of the Alex Fraser bridge, one of the alternative routes into Vancouver due to the Port Mann bridge closure, at 7:15 a.m. this morning


The Port Mann bridge

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“We can expect a very busy commute this morning,” said TransLink spokesman Drew Snider.


If commuters can travel outside of peak hours—7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.—then do so, he said.


“SkyTrain has a couple of extra trains that can be put into service if necessary,” he said, adding that rush hour service may be extended, if necessary.


The West Coast Express will be busy, he said, but it can handle additional passengers.


“Expect lots of people on buses and trains, and there will be pass-ups and heavy-loaded vehicles,” Snider said.


An unified command post to deal with the traffic and hydro chaos has been established at the Home Depot on United Boulevard in Coquitlam.


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METRO VANCOUVER - Highway 1 remains closed in both directions at the Cape Horn interchange after last night's collapse of a BC Hydro tower.


The Lougheed Highway is also closed from Brunette Avenue to Pitt River Road. The earliest the highways could be open is 9 a.m., highways officials say. Translink advises transit will be crowded and asks those who can work at home to do so.


Translink spokesman Drew Snider is advising commuters who normally use the Port Mann Bridge to not use the Golden Ears Bridge as the Lougheed Highway also remains closed at Brunette Avenue.


The West Coast Express says all trains will be running on their normal morning schedules.


Snider warned that there will be passups by full buses and there will be heavily loaded vehicles.


He also advised avoiding the peak-of-the-peak period: 7-8:30 a.m.


"If you can travel outside that time, you can expect a more convenient commute."


BC Hydro this morning said only one tower fell. Earlier reports said two hydro towers collapsed along the Fraser River near the Port Mann bridge Monday night, causing a massive blackout affecting 25,000 properties in Surrey, New Westminster and Abbotsford.


According to the earlier report, the first 230 kV steel tower crumbled along the south bank of the Fraser River, slightly downstream of the bridge at about 9 p.m. The second tower, attached by power lines, fell further south inland.


B.C. Hydro crews began working on removing the fallen wires Monday night.


Coquitlam and Surrey RCMP advised people stay clear of the area, and shut down Highway 1 both ways from west of the Port Mann Bridge to the Schoolhouse-United Blvd. area in Coquitlam.


According to Drive BC, the bridge is set to reopen at 9 a.m. Motorists are advised to take either the Alex Fraser or the Pattullo as alternative routes for their commutes.


TransLink said it is already dedicating extra resources to counter the morning rush.


The tower collapsed after high river levels quickly accelerated erosion along the Fraser River, destabilizing the power lines.


"Today, the situation deteriorated as a result of higher river levels and electricity infrastructure near the Port Mann bridge was affected," a B.C. Hydro spokesperson said in a news release.


"We worked very quickly to respond and BC Hydro crews have restored power to the majority of customers and are continue working hard to restore power to an additional approximately 4,000 customers."


Lights flickered back on in Abbotsford and most of Surrey around 10:00 p.m. BC Hydro crews continued scrambling to restore power to the remaining affected customers late Monday night.