Windstorm creates traffic nightmare on North Shore

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Many people in the South Coastal B.C. are suffering from a lack of sleep after last night’s window rattling  wind storm which knocked down numerous trees, knocked out power to thousands of people, and created a traffic nightmare for people trying to use the Lions Gate Bridge between Vancouver and the North Shore. 

Fortunately, those extremely strong winds have subsided, but the damage left behind still remains in many areas.  A fallen tree and fallen light standard gantry this morning forced a closure of the Stanley Park Causeway in both directions.   Eventually one lane was allowed to cross the Lions Gate Bridge southbound, with traffic feeding into downtown via Park Drive through Stanley Park. And just after 11:30 a.m., all lanes were finally reopened. 

The Causeway and Lions Gate Bridge closure created huge lineups along Marine Drive from North and West Vancouver, with traffic also lined up along Taylor Way and Capilano Road.  It will take some time for the lineups  from the North Shore to subside.  SeaBus is also back to normal passenger levels, after huge lineups this morning which created 2 or 3 sailing waits from North Vancouver to downtown.

At one point, the winds had knocked out power to approximately 70,000 customers.  By mid-morning, that was down to 30,000 customers.  With the winds dying down, Dag Sharman with BC Hydro says crews can now get out there and fix the problems.  “These are better conditions for our crews to do their work because safety, of course, is the first priority, so they are out there restoring power and in some circumstances it can be pretty difficult, tricky conditions.”

BC Ferries sailings are leaving again, but you can expect to wait due to the backlog of passengers created by earlier cancellations.