Westham Island Bridge fully reopens 67 days after barge strike, extensive repairs | Daily Hive

Reopening of Westham Island Bridge on March 28, 2026. (City of Delta)

Westham Island Bridge has officially fully reopened to vehicle, pedestrian, and cyclist traffic after a vessel collision more than two months ago prompted a comprehensive structural integrity assessment and intensive emergency repairs — restoring a critical transportation link for residents and major agricultural businesses on the rural island in Delta.

TransLink made the reopening announcement in a bulletin yesterday evening.

The 1910-built, swing-span, single-lane wooden bridge was forced to close on the evening of Jan. 20, 2026, after a tug boat towing a large barge struck one of its support piers, causing significant structural damage — knocking the bridge out of alignment and resulting in a leak of the water main below the structure.

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Since then, crews completed extensive technical investigations and have worked continuously — day and night — for 67 days to safely restore the crossing for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. For a two-week period after the vessel strike, the bridge remained open to pedestrians and cyclists, but a full closure was later needed beginning Feb. 4 to enable a more expedited and safer repair process. On- and off-island access was retained through the temporary operation of ferry and vehicle barge services.

The repair effort involved several complex phases, including the installation of a temporary pier to stabilize the structure, removal of damaged materials, rehabilitation of the bridge deck, and construction of a new permanent pier. The latter required pile driving and the installation of large structural support beams to ensure long-term stability.

New photos by the City of Delta of the bridge’s full reopening on the evening of March 28, 2026 appear to show fresh wooden materials for the bridge deck’s approaches.

westham island bridge delta repaired march 28 2026

Reopening of Westham Island Bridge on March 28, 2026. (City of Delta)

While the reopening marks a major milestone, some work is still ongoing.

Crews will continue efforts in the coming weeks to reinforce the structure by stabilizing piles with rock protection, removing the temporary pier, and adding additional steel reinforcements.

Due to the ongoing construction, the Fraser River’s navigation channel beneath the bridge remains closed to marine traffic. TransLink noted that there may be occasional overnight openings of the bridge’s swing span, each lasting approximately 15 minutes, to allow crews safe access for remaining repairs. These closures will be scheduled overnight to minimize disruption to the community.

Damaged Westham Island Bridge closed to vehicles. (City of Delta)

Damaged Westham Island Bridge closed to vehicles. (Lana Popham)

The repair project has been a coordinated effort between TransLink and the City of Delta, with both entities working closely to support affected residents and restore access as quickly as possible.

“This reopening reflects the commitment of the many people who contributed to the repair effort in every capacity,” reads TransLink’s bulletin.

“TransLink thanks Westham Island residents, businesses, mariners, and bridge users for their patience as crews worked to repair the bridge as quickly as possible.”

In a bulletin, the City of Delta stated they are “grateful to TransLink for their diligent work in repairing the bridge and reopening the crossing to vehicle traffic.”

westham island bridge damage marine vessel collision january 20 2026 f

Damage to the Westham Island Bridge following a marine vessel collision on Jan. 20, 2026. (Dylan Kruger)

westham island bridge damage marine vessel collision january 20 2026

Damage to the Westham Island Bridge following a marine vessel collision on Jan. 20, 2026. (Dylan Kruger)

Prior to the incident, TransLink was already in the early stages of planning to build a new replacement bridge, given the age and deteriorating condition of the structure, and its known vulnerabilities, including potential vessel strikes.

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.

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