RICHMOND, B.C. — A serious traffic disruption unfolded Friday morning after a commercial semi-truck collided with the Cambie Road overpass just south of the Knight Street Bridge. The impact forced officials to close all southbound lanes of Knight Street, causing major delays for morning commuters.
According to Richmond RCMP, the crash occurred around 7:15 a.m. PT, when a dump trailer being towed in the raised position struck the underside of the overpass. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported, but the roadway will remain closed while engineers assess the bridge’s structural integrity.
“We do not have any timelines at the moment, but we are sympathetic to travellers,” RCMP said in a statement. “We strongly suggest re-routing until further notice.”
By mid-morning, the trailer remained lodged against the overpass, prompting structural engineers from the City of Richmond and the B.C. Ministry of Transportation to conduct an emergency inspection.
“City staff are working to examine the bridge to ensure it is safe for traffic,” the city said in a news release. “We hope to reopen the overpass as quickly as possible.”
Later in the day, RCMP confirmed the driver of the truck is not cooperating with investigators. The Richmond Road Safety Unit has taken over the case and is working with provincial officials to determine the extent of the damage.
Authorities said the commercial vehicle was found a short distance away after it became severed from the trailer unit during impact.
A Growing Concern
The incident adds to a growing list of overpass collisions across British Columbia in recent months. Similar crashes in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley have raised concerns about highway safety and over-height load enforcement.
The B.C. Trucking Association noted that while driver error often plays a role, better infrastructure and height monitoring could help prevent such incidents.
In a separate incident, a dump truck overturned on the Crescent City Connection Bridge in New Orleans earlier this month, closing several westbound lanes of U.S. 90B for nearly three hours. Louisiana State Police confirmed minor injuries and heavy traffic backups on nearby routes, including Clearview Parkway and the Huey P. Long Bridge.
Both crashes highlight the importance of ongoing reviews of commercial vehicle safety and bridge clearance standards across North America.