OEE Later OA be

bridge sur-

factors in

FRIDAY
April 5, 1996

S

ALOR KT

PNT sare

claims
a life

Man attempted

centre lane pass
A NORTH Vancouver mar who

. died in a multi-vehicle crash ‘on

the Lions Gate Bricge on
Saturday has been identified as
20-year-old Forrest Allan
Blakeman.

By Anna Marie D'Angelo
News Reporter

.. Blakeman was travelling north in a

1986 Nissan Pulsar when he attempted

to pass a vehicle’in front of him by

using the clesed centre jane, according

to Wes: Vancouver Police Sgt. Barry
. Nickerson. ; :

Police say speed, bald tires and an
icy bridge surface were contributing
factors in the fatal crash. Blakeman’s
: car, police say,
struck the car he
was passing
which in turn set
offs chain of col-
lisions,

Blakeman’s
car. “careened™
into the = south-
bound lane twice
before it stopped
about 183 metres
(600 feet) from
face were the first. car

: . struck. according
contributing to a police
: spokesman.

Two other dri-
vers were taken to
hospital with
non-life threaten-
ing injuries, said
Nickerson. Police
; say five cars were
damaged in the incident.

Emergency response crews spent 45
minutes removing Blakeman from his
wrecked car.

He was pronounced dead at Lions
Gate Hospital. ;

' Nickerson said the two injured dri-
vers are from North Vancouver,

No names were released.

Bridge traflic in both directions was
blocked for five hours until about 11
a.m as emergency crews and then
cleanup crews worked to clear the area,

Nickerson said glass, debris and
‘pools of vehicle fluids were scattered
for handreds of feet.

A police car had all four of ils tires
flauened afier travelling over some of
the debris, Police estimate the cora-
bined vehicle damage at $50,000.

| EERE EEE
64 Police
say Speed,

~ bald tires
~ and an icy

the fatal
crash. OF

POLICE INVESTIGATORS take measurements in the aftermath of a multi-vehiclo crash Saturday on the Lions Gate Bridge.

29
| Weather
i Saturday: Clouds and showers

High 15°C, low 8'C.

serbia

Setar

i Photo Mark Grehem
. Forrest

Allan Blakeman, 20, of North Vancouver, was fatally injured in the Nissan car (right). Two other motorists were taken to hospital.

SECOND NARROWS BRIDGE LANE CLOSURES

$9 million worth of repairs to
stress summer commuter
traffic flow on N. Shore bridges

SECOND NARROWS Bridge commuters can expect sum-
mertime pain for long-term gain.

By fan Noble
News Reporter

Lions Gate Bridge commuters will find themselves contending with
pure pain.

From Sune through mid-August, the Second Narrows Bridge will
undergo $9 million in repairs and upgrades, said Ministry of
Transportation and Highways communications coordinator Brenda Jones
Wednesday.

Two Second Narrows lanes will be out of commission on a rotating
basis while repairs are being done. The situation, she said, will be handled
similarly to the closures on the Oak Street Bridge last sunimer.

“We're optimistic delays will not be significant if alternate modes of
transportation und limes are utilized, if the public comes on-side with us
like they did so well with che Oak Street project.” she said,

Jones explained the ministry anticipates chat commuters and others
contemplating bridge travel will consider public transporiation, such as the

SeaBus, car pooling, and travelling at off-peak hours to decrease traffic
congestion. The repairs will also have a spillover effect on Lions Gute
Bridge, which is already at capacity, Jones said. “Pm sure there will be
more traffic on the bridge and more queues.”

Doing the repair work in summer should minimize the impact on com-
muters because commuting traffic
drops off in the summer, she added.

Highway statistics show that up to
10,000 cars an hour cross the bridge in
ihe summer afternoon rush hour.

Jones said the work on the Second
Narrows will include deck repairs,
moving the lighting from the middle
to the outside of the bridge, erecting a
new concrete medium, and construct-
ing a }.4-metre (5 ft.) high protective
barrier and railing for the inside of the
sidewalk on both sides.

The barrier, she said, will protect
cyclists and pedestrians.

Jones explained that the bridge has
not undergone extensive repmiirs since .
it opened in 1960. The bridge is safe but it's time for significant repair to
ensure the bridge’s longevity.

“If we waited too much loager, the delays would be much more signif
icant.” she said. The praject has not yet gone to tender. Jones expects that
to happen in Jate April. Contracts will be awarded im fate May.

&& Up to 10,000
cars an hour cross
the bridge in the

summer afternoon

rush hour 9F

an