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Mechanical issues with Richmond’s Moray Bridge ‘routine,’ says Ministry

Despite Richmond commuters spending hours in grid-lock on Sea Island last week, the transportation ministry doesn’t anticipate any major repairs to the Moray Bridge.
Kirsten Clarke
moray bridge
Photo: Google Maps

Despite Richmond commuters spending hours in grid-lock on Sea Island last week, the transportation ministry doesn’t anticipate any major repairs to the Moray Bridge.

The low-lying swing bridge, spanning the Middle Arm of the Fraser River, first shut down in the afternoon on July 16 due to a mechanical issue that left the bridge unable to close. The issue caused traffic jams in the surrounding area and drivers had to detour to the Arthur Laine Bridge or down to Russ Baker Way.

And on July 18 – the second time in three days – Moray Bridge was stuck again, causing more heavy traffic along east-bound Sea Island Way.

The bridge, maintained by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, was built in 1957 and facilitates eastbound road traffic from Sea Island to Richmond and Highway 99. The swing bridge, located north of the Vancouver/Richmond Marina, also allows the passage of recreational maritime traffic.

Each of last week’s incidents were due to “issues associated with the mechanical and electrical systems that operate the swing span,” said the ministry.

The ministry did not elaborate when asked by the Richmond News what those issues were, but did say that the bridge’s swing system needs continual maintenance, repair and troubleshooting, and that the three recent issues only required routine work.    

“There are no major repair/rehabilitation works planned for at this time, and the work performed to remedy recent issues is considered routine,” said the ministry.