Highway 3 reduced to single alternating traffic pattern
By Nelson Daily Staff
Highway 3 was reduced to single-lane, alternating traffic pattern for most of Wednesday as crews cleaned up a tractor-trailer accident Tuesday afternoon.
Crews were cleaning up lumber debris and fixing the bridge deck after lumber on the trailer shifted.
Tractor-trailer accident on Paulson Bridge shuts down Highway 3A
Drive BC is reporting Highway 3 between Christina Lake and Castlegar was closed for most of Tuesday evening due to an accident on the Paulson Bridge.
Drive BC originally said on its website the estimated time of the highway opening was 11 p.m. However, the road was opened to single-lane, alternating traffic at 9:30 p.m.
The closure, happening at approximately 4 p.m. Tuesday, was due to a westbound tractor-trailer with a load of lumber that failed to negotiate the tight corner entering the bridge, flipping and spilling its load onto the bridge deck.
The tractor trailer was unable to slow down to enough from the hill entering the bridge to successfully complete the 50 km/h corner.
The driver managed to keep his rig on the bridge deck, avoiding the almost 300-foot drop to the old rail bed trail below.
DriveBC said a detour was available for cars and light trucks, but not commercial vehicles.
