A new system that detects and diverts overnight vehicles is launching this year with an aim to protect travellers and property by minimizing overpass collisions.
“Overheight collisions are entirely preventable,” says Mike Farnworth, Minister of Transportation and Transit.
A new overheight-detection system, under construction as of this week, will be situated in Chilliwack on Highway 1 westbound at the No. 3 Road Interchange.
The forthcoming system will utilize a combination of beam-break sensors, radar, cameras, and flashing beacons to detect vehicles that exceed height limits and alert drivers in advance of the overpass.
“This new system will help ensure overheight commercial drivers get advanced warning before reaching the overpass,” Farnworth says.
“By combining proven detection tools with stronger enforcement methods, we are taking action to reduce the number of strikes and keep people and goods moving safely,” the Minister stated.
The No. 3 Road location was chosen as the test site for the “multi-technology approach” because it has been the site of six overpass collisions since 2021.
The system launch is part of “ongoing efforts to improve safety and protect highway travellers and infrastructure,” according to a statement.
Commercial carriers “move over 90% of the goods that keep British Columbia’s economy running,” notes Dave Earle, chief executive officer of the BC Trucking Association, “and when infrastructure is damaged, it creates safety risks and major disruptions for all road users.”
“Preventing overpass strikes is a shared priority for industry and government,” he says.
The project’s $2 million budget is funded through the 2025-26 Intelligent Transportation Systems program.
“This type of investment supports safer highways and a more reliable transportation network for the movement of goods,” stated Earle.
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