When a dump truck rammed into a construction zone on the Burlington Skyway Thursday afternoon, it caused significant damage to a crucial transportation artery between Toronto, Niagara, and bridges to the U.S.
The timing couldn't have been worse: not only is this a long weekend when plenty of drivers hit the road, it's also Caribana weekend, with hundreds of revellers expected to arrive from Niagara.
Here's what this accident will mean for drivers:
What's closed:
The Toronto-bound lanes of the QEW over the bridge are now closed and will remain so for some time. The Niagara-bound lanes are still open, but the trip over the bridge will be slow because of the work that will need to go on in the Toronto-bound lanes.
How long will it be closed?
The dump truck's bucket slammed into the bridge's overhead girders, causing extensive damage. As of mid-morning Friday, the truck was still stuck. It's not clear when it will be removed.
The bridge will be inspected by structural engineers Friday, but they may not issue any word on what should happen next until late in the day. Even in the best-case scenario, it will take several days to repair the damage. And it's not clear whether the repairs could begin over the long weekend.
What are the alternatives?
When travelling from Niagara to Toronto, the OPP suggests taking the Red Hill Valley Parkway exit off the QEW, then get on the Lincoln Alexander Parkway, and then onto Highway 403 Eastbound, which merges onto the QEW towards Toronto.
Drivers can also try taking Eastport Drive to the Burlington Canal lift bridge adjacent to the Skyway. But travelling over the lift bridge is tricky at the best of times, as the lift is raised every hour on the half hour to allow boats and ships through.
Hamilton Police says they're waiting to hear whether the lift bridge schedule can be adjusted to account for traffic due to the Skyway closure. But they note that this long weekend is also a busy on the waters so they need to balance the needs of drivers and boaters.
Should I take transit?
GO Transit says the Burlington Skyway closure is also affecting their bus service from Niagara, with delays of up to 60 minutes along Route 12. Because of the heavy traffic, train and bus connections will be made at Aldershot instead of Burlington until further notice, it says.
What happens now to the truck driver?
Reports from the scene indicate that the dump truck's bucket was in an elevated position when it struck scaffolding on the bridge. The 34-year-old driver, from Brampton, is now facing impaired driving charges for his part in the accident.
The driver suffered minor injuries and is in police custody.
