Wetcoaster Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 The BC government is placing the blame on the contractor and engineers who designed the bridge. The contractor who built the new Port Mann Bridge is solely responsible for the damage caused by falling ice Wednesday because the company failed to meet specifications in the construction contract, B.C.'s transportation minister Mary Polak says. Polak said Thursday the province and Transportation Investment Corp. relied on Kiewit-Flatiron and its engineers to ensure there would be no snow or ice accumulation on the bridge. "What we saw occur yesterday on the Port Mann was absolutely unacceptable," Polak said. "This is the responsibility of the contractor. The taxpayer will not be on the hook for this." Polak, who did not return media calls Wednesday, said Thursday the situation "was absolutely unacceptable." Two people were injured after chunks of ice fell off the bridge's cable supports. About 120 claims have also been filed by drivers as a result of the damage. Mike Proudfoot, the CEO of the Transportation Investment Corp., says the company will cover the deductibles of any drivers who filed claims. The company will also waive the tolls for drivers who used the bridge between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Two people were injured in the rain of ice, which forced the closure of the new bridge for several hours during a major snowstorm on Wednesday. Earlier, Proudfoot apologized to drivers for the problem and said engineers have been called in to see if they can prevent a repeat of the falling ice. University of B.C. engineering professor Perry Adebar said it is too early to call the bridge’s design a mistake. But he noted that because the cables on the Port Mann are inclined over the bridge, much of the snow will fall on its deck, unlike the Alex Fraser, where cables are outside the driving area. “Let’s hope that the way the ice accumulated on the stay cables was a very unusual occurrence and that we will not witness this again for many years,” Adebar said in an email. NDP transportation critic Harry Bains said the B.C. Liberal government should have considered this kind of weather in the design of the bridge. He said the falling ice raises questions of the bridge’s safety. Bains said Wednesday’s weather — wet snow and freezing temperatures — is not unusual in the Lower Mainland. He said the B.C. Liberals are quick to take credit for the bridge during numerous photo opportunities, but will need to answer some serious questions about its safety and design. “The buck must stop with the (transportation) minister,” said Bains. B.C. Transportation Minister Mary Polak, who was travelling Wednesday, was not available for comment. http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Port+Mann+Bridge+reopens+after+slush+bombs+endanger+drivers+damage+vehicles+with+video/7714237/story.html#ixzz2FdYBzWtN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Opmac Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 And as expected, this is used as ammunition against the BC Liberals. Good to know Kiewit-Flatiron will be responsible for rectifying this. No engineer, but if heating doesn't work, some kind of netting/sieve over the highway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inane Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 And as expected, this is used as ammunition against the BC Liberals. Good to know Kiewit-Flatiron will be responsible for rectifying this. No engineer, but if heating doesn't work, some kind of netting/sieve over the highway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wetcoaster Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 And as expected, this is used as ammunition against the BC Liberals. Good to know Kiewit-Flatiron will be responsible for rectifying this. No engineer, but if heating doesn't work, some kind of netting/sieve over the highway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aGENT Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Do we really expect politicians of any party to design bridges now? This isn't a political issue, it's an engineering one. Let's just turn down the sensationalism and political rhetoric a notch shall we? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wetcoaster Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Do we really expect politicians of any party to design bridges now? This isn't a political issue, it's an engineering one. Let's just turn down the sensationalism and political rhetoric a notch shall we? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucks since 77 Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Looks like one of the few feathers in the B.C liberals cap just got singed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KoreanHockeyFan Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Do we really expect politicians of any party to design bridges now? This isn't a political issue, it's an engineering one. Let's just turn down the sensationalism and political rhetoric a notch shall we? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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