New Emergency Cross Over Gates Announced
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Emergency vehicles will have a clearer path to traffic incidents, decreasing response times, thanks to new cross over gates at the Oak Street Bridge and Alex Fraser Bridge |
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| March 1, 2011 |
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This project is aimed at reducing emergency vehicle response time when access to these bridges is blocked by a variety of incidents. The gates will permit continued traffic flow so commuters can get to work and home while still ensuring emergency service attendants can do their jobs. "This project will take important steps in ensuring those who need help, get the emergency service they need as quickly as possible. As the population and demands on our transit system grows, we are ensuring safety is a priority." "From fender benders to serious accidents, if emergency vehicles need to get to an incident, these emergency gates will decrease their response time. Emergency services and local municipalities asked for this project and we've responded." "We are very pleased that the Provincial government is taking decisive steps to improve emergency access on the Alex Fraser Bridge. The cross-over gates will be a tremendous help for emergency services - not only to reach accidents more quickly, but to be able to divert vehicles off the bridge and minimize traffic disruption. Accidents are, unfortunately, a regular occurrence on the Alex Fraser Bridge - these improvements should help reduce the hours of traffic gridlock and, more importantly, help save lives." Additional information: The project includes the installation of emergency cross over gates at Oak Street Bridge on Highway 99 and Alex Fraser Bridge on Highway 91. The metal gates will be bolted to the median barrier and work on a hinge, rolling out into the traffic lane and providing a shute like system so that the traffic can move over to the opposite lanes. This will allow one lane in each direction with the middle lane empty for two-way traffic on one side of the bridge. Each bridge has two gates, one at each end. Work began at the beginning of February and is scheduled for completion on March 31, 2011. Mainroad Lower Mainland Contracting Ltd. from Surrey, B.C. was awarded the contract at $250,000. For more information, contact the Mayor's Office at (604) 946-3210. |
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