Truck driver escapes injury, but fined after bridge collapse in rural N.S.

A fine has been issued after a bridge collapsed under the weight of a transport truck in Nova Scotia’s Colchester County Tuesday morning.

RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Chris Marshall said police received a call around 7 a.m., saying a truck had been crossing a bridge on Lake Road in French River when it collapsed.

“The driver was the only person in the truck. They managed to get out uninjured,” he said.

The driver of the transport truck, which was carrying lumber, was the one who made the 911 call, Marshall said.

Lake Road has closed down and motorists are asked to use Trout Brook Road or Cooper Road instead. The road closure will be indefinite.

In a statement, Public Works spokesperson Gary Andrea said the class of truck on the bridge was not permitted on that section of Lake Road “due to the road’s classification for truck weight and configuration.”

He said the driver was issued one summary offence ticket and others are pending. Fines can range from $237 to $4,100.

“Commercial trucks have a responsibility to be aware of road classifications,” he said. “We do not have a timeline on how long the bridge will be closed, or how long the investigation will last.”

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He said due to an ongoing investigation, the province is unable to comment on details of the bridge or provide inspection reports. However, he noted that about 600 bridges — or 14 per cent — are rated 4/9 or less and need to be upgraded.

“A bridge in that condition is still considered safe and receives more intensive and more frequent inspections,” he said.

“As part of the department’s annual Five-Year Highway Improvement Plan, we have dozens of bridge projects in various stages of planning and construction, for both replacement and rehabilitation.”