Monday's morning rush hour will be a little more hectic with the closure of the Tranquille Road overpass after it was clipped by an excavator on the back of a semi trailer on Friday.
The duration of the closure will be determined after the City inspects the overpass today, said Jim McNeely, streets and internal services manager. The assessment will also determine the extent of repairs needed to make the overpass structurally sound again.
The unnamed Robo Transport driver, who has since been fired, said he thought he could clear the overpass at the north end of the Overlanders Bridge.
He said ridges on the road caused his truck and load to bounce, suggesting this is what caused the impact, which left a two-metre gouge and exposed bent rebar.
But McNeely disputed that observation.
"I don't think the road is bumpy there," said McNeely.
However, because the Overlanders Bridge is on the budget list to be resurfaced next year, McNeely said the resurfacing could extend toward the overpass to get rid of the "ridges in the road."
"We could possibly repave the road underneath the overpass, but our first priority is to resurface the Overlanders Bridge," said McNeely.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Lane Jumaga said the overpass closure will only affect northbound traffic trying to access Tranquille Road.
"I am sure people are well aware that the overpass is closed, the cement barriers have been blocking it now for a few days," said Jumaga. "There are several other ways to access Tranquille Road."
