Metro Vancouver snow: Watch how crews prevent 'ice bombs' from falling on local bridges
With Metro Vancouver seeing its first snowfall at the city level, the province is preparing to clear buildup on local bridge cables to prevent so-called "ice bombs" from falling.
B.C.'s Transportation Ministry said in an update Friday that contractors are ready to use cable collars to clear snow and ice from the Alex Fraser and Port Mann bridges as needed.
The collars were installed after an "ice bomb" fiasco in 2012, which damaged about 350 vehicles on the Port Mann when built up snow and ice fell from the collars, shattering windshields. Similar incidents have been reported on the Alex Fraser Bridge in recent years, even though the provincial ministry says "falling ice and snow (was) a rare occurrence for the first 30 years of its operation."
The cable collar system was installed in 2018 and includes 10 collars, but they require manual operation by rope-access technicians to clear the cables. The Port Mann Bridge also now has snow-clearing collars on each of its 288 cables.
The ministry says the collars "are basically chains that fit around the bridge cables." As they move down the length of the cable, they remove ice and snow. It takes less than a minute for the collar to travel to the bottom of a cable.
Technicians then manually detach the collars from the cables, move them back to the bridge tower and "hoist them back up to the top of the cables," the ministry says. Outside lanes on the bridge are temporarily closed while the clearing happens.
"In the years that cable collars have been used, they have been successful in removing most of the snow on the cables. However, some snow may be shed naturally from the cables as the weather warms or if it is blown off," the Transportation Ministry said in a statement.
"To better prepare for the weather conditions that lead to falling ice and snow, the ministry has taken steps to improve its weather forecasting and will be activating the cable-collar systems sooner in a weather event."
Before those were installed, the Transportation Ministry used other creative approaches to clear the cables, including a chopper that was flown overhead to blow away snow and ice on at least one occasion in 2016.
Dozens of insurance claims have been filed because of damage from the ice bombs.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.