Fraser River bridge in Delta knocked out of alignment from vessel collision, with major repairs to require lifting the structure

City of Delta reveals plan to support residents impacted by long-term bridge closure

Water main leak found beneath Fraser River bridge after vessel strike

TransLink is planning to replace a 1910-built bridge across the Fraser River in Metro Vancouver

This is how the new George Massey Tunnel will be built

Protective ship collision barriers to be installed for Lions Gate Bridge and Ironworkers Memorial Bridge

The 1910-built wooden bridge now requires technically complex and specialized marine construction to enable its full reopening. Previous photos of the damaged in-river pier show splintered wood beams and a warped bridge deck that is no longer straight.

Repairs to require full closure of bridge to pedestrians

TransLink now states that, based on its better understanding of the scope of the damage, the planned repair work includes temporarily lifting a section of the bridge to access and repair the damaged area, replacing damaged piles and beams, and reconnecting the pier to the bridge structure.

At this time, it is estimated that the repairs will take “several weeks,” with no defined start and potential end time for the major construction work. TransLink notes that they have every intention to complete the repairs as soon as possible, but the timelines could also be impacted by ongoing inspections, soil conditions, tides, weather, and the structure’s advanced age.

To reduce the overall timeline of fully reopening the bridge, TransLink is proceeding with engineering and repair design work while coordinating necessary regulatory approvals and securing equipment and materials to reduce delays to the start of construction.

During the repair work, the bridge will also need to be fully closed to pedestrians to allow crews to work safely. When this full closure occurs, a water taxi service will be made available for residents and essential trips.

“The Westham Island Bridge is more than just a crossing — it’s a vital lifeline for the farmers, families, and local businesses that define this community. I know the recent barge collision and resulting closure has put a massive strain on the community,” said Kevin Quinn, the CEO of TransLink, in a statement.

“We are doing everything we can to restore the bridge as soon as possible, every hour it’s closed is an hour too long. While we are exploring every possible interim option to get traffic moving, our absolute priority is ensuring the span is structurally safe before vehicles start crossing again.”

The bulletin also notes that the option of rapidly installing a temporary bridge is not feasible due to Pier 5 being compromised. After a 1969 incident that involved a barge striking the bridge, a temporary “Bailey bridge” structure — a type of portable, pre-fabricated, truss bridge designed during the Second World War — was installed at the site within days using the same piers as the foundations. However, in that incident, the damage was mainly related to the bridge deck, not the structural supports.

Where many potatoes and other crops are grown

Westham Island Bridge connects Westham Island — located on the westernmost end of Delta at the mouth of the Fraser River — with the Ladner area of Delta on the mainland. It is the only fixed road link to the island, which is about 2,500 acres in size — roughly 2.5 times larger than the land area of Vancouver’s Stanley Park — and home to about 200 residents, major farming businesses, and a wildlife conservation area.

According to Lana Popham, the B.C. minister of agriculture, food, and fisheries, Westham Island is where 65 per cent of seed potatoes for B.C.’s potato crop comes from, including for major farms like Heppels Potato. It is also where thousands of pounds of beets and cabbage are harvested and moved to BC Fresh Veggies. Crops grown on this island are also delivered to local restaurants and sold at some of Vancouver’s largest markets.

In a separate bulletin yesterday, the City of Delta noted it has arranged for barge services and parking areas to assist with the transport of farm goods and personal and commercial vehicles.

Other interim and long-term replacement measures

Since last week, TransLink and the City of Delta have been operating free shuttle bus services between the eastern end of the bridge and the Ladner bus exchange. Additionally, an on-island free shuttle bus service is now running to improve access to the western end of the bridge, with temporary bus stops installed at certain locations on the island.

Emergency services — ambulance and fire — have direct access to the island, and Metro Vancouver Transit Police has also been deployed to the eastern end of the bridge, 24/7.

It was also previously reported by the City of Delta that during the initial inspections of the structural damage, a leak in the water main located at the bottom of the river beneath the bridge was discovered. It should be noted that officials have not stated whether the water main leak is related to the collision incident, such as whether the marine vessel strike that damaged the bridge structure may also have caused disturbance to the riverbed below, where the water main is situated. The City has not indicated when the leak may have begun or what caused it.

A precautionary boil water advisory for Westham Island issued last Friday remains in effect until further notice. The City has also been providing residents with bottled water supplies.

Following this incident, TransLink has reaffirmed its strategy to build a new replacement Westham Island Bridge. As previously reported by Daily Hive Urbanized in late 2025, TransLink is in the early stages of planning a new crossing to replace the aging and highly vulnerable crossing.

Ongoing maintenance to keep the bridge safe and its swing-span mechanism operational can only go so far for a wooden structure that was originally designed to last 60 years, but is now 115 years old.

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