Drivers are being warned to expect heavy traffic on the Lions Gate Bridge overnight Saturday as crews prepare for more rehabilitation work on the crossing.
But the government is promising a workaround to avoid the kind of ongoing congestion that plagued the last round of construction in August, much of which was blamed on one little bump that motorists were slowing down to pass.
This time, the government is installing a temporary construction cover across the bridge that’s intended to keep the drive smooth.
“There will be no ‘bump,’ so the flow of traffic will remain efficient and delays minimized,” the Ministry of Transportation said in a release.
Congestion is expected overnight Saturday, however, as crews install that construction cover for about 12 hours starting at 9 p.m. Motorists are advised to consider another route during that time.
“Once installed, this temporary bridge cover will be safe for normal driving speeds on the corridor and drivers are encouraged to drive with the normal flow of traffic,” the government said.
The rehabilitation work will focus on replacing the south tower expansion joint, which has exceeded its design life and must be replaced with new parts. The cost of the repair is estimated at $1.1 million.
According to the government, the roughly 77-year-old Lions Gate Bridge is crossed between 60,000 to 70,000 times daily.
