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Crews repair Williams Creek bridge

A rig loaded with a crane struck the top of the bridge while the vehicle was heading south to Kitimat July 10.
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Drivers should expect delays on their commute to Kitimat as Williams Creek bridge is under repairs after a truck crashed into it last Thursday.

Crews are hard at work repairing the Williams Creek bridge after a semi truck with an oversized load slammed into it July 10.

A rig loaded with a crane struck the top of the bridge while the vehicle was heading south to Kitimat, said Peter Lansdowne of Nechako Northcoast, who sent out a crew along with ministry of transportation workers to stabilize the bridge until permanent repairs can be done.

It's believed the crane was not properly folded, said Lansdowne, adding it was too high for the 4.9 m clearance and hit the portals of the overhead beams which you drive under when entering the bridge.

Workers hope to be done stabilizing the bridge by the end of the day July 18 and to open up both lanes again.

Right now, there are flaggers on-site 24 hours a day with one lane alternating traffic, he said.

If it's not finished, crews will work through the weekend, as they did last weekend, said Lansdowne.

"First of all, the engineers have to be comfortable with the condition of the bridge and their evaluation of how to stabilize it and then there is also a supply of materials they had to get in," said Lansdowne, referring to items that are being brought in for repairs from Prince George.

Permanent repairs are expected to be done tin the next couple of months.

Lansdowne added that vehicles have hit the top of the bridge before.