Moncton plans no new warning signs for overpass

Moncton isn’t planning on taking any additional steps to protect its downtown overpass against future collisions.

Traffic was rerouted for more than eight hours on Friday after a transport truck from Nova Scotia became stuck under the city’s "subway overpass."

Don Morehouse, the city’s director of public works, said Moncton has already put up three signs warning truckers to avoid the area. There is also a clearance warning near the overpass.

Morehouse said city planners feel they have done all they can to warn truckers to steer clear of the overpass.

"We're not planning to change our infrastructure for this one incident. Obviously, the city is set up a certain way and Main Street itself is not a truck route," he said.

He said truckers have to learn that Main Street isn't an option for big loads.

"There [are] truck routes in the city that are designed for truck traffic and there are routes designed for the regular motorist. The roads are obviously signed," he said.

"There's advance warning that trucks aren't permitted on those roads. And also, especially on that structure, there was a sign indicating the height of the structure."

Morehouse said drivers whose vehicles become stuck under the overpass can be fined under the Motor Vehicle Act for using a non-truck route.

But trucks routinely get jammed under the overpass with 11-feet (3.3-metres) of clearance despite the signage.

Those collisions, however, do not seem to be doing any long-term damage to the overpass.

Julie Senecal, the manager of public and government affairs at CN Rail, which owns the bridge itself, said CN inspectors were on site after last week's collision.

"The inspection is basically to make sure that there was no damage to the structure. Or if there were damages, to make sure that we proceed with the necessary corrective actions," she said.

Senecal said CN inspects all of its bridges annually, more often if something like this happens.