A gantry has dropped a section of the deck for Canada’s Port Mann Bridge into the river below.

Above: One of the gantries at Port Mann

The construction gantry was being used to install precast deck sections on the north approach of the new Port Mann Bridge when it malfunctioned. It is now leaning south, toward the cable-stay section of the bridge.

Immediately following the incident, the contractor, Kiewit/Flatiron, cleared and secured the affected location and notified the local officials and authorities. There were no injuries, and the site and gantry are secure according to British Columbia’s Transportation Investment Corporation and the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure.

At the time of the malfunction, a precast concrete deck segment fell into the Fraser River. The area of the river was closed to boats and marine users at the time because there was work happening above.

The Port Mann/Highway 1 Improvement Project contractor Kiewit/Flatiron is undertaking an investigation to determine precisely how the malfunction occurred. This investigation will also determine whether the malfunction will have any impact on the construction schedule for the new bridge. WorkSafeBC will also conduct an investigation.

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