Cracks found in Ironworkers Memorial bridge

Hairline cracks have been found in some of the support structures of the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Bridgeduring a routine inspection.

As a result, the B.C. Ministry of Transportation plans two overnight closures of the bridge over Burrard Inlet for testing next week to see just how serious the problem is.

Spokesman Mike Long said inspectors want to see if the cracks widen under a heavy load.

"It's a load test, so they take in this case a large truck and drive it over portions of the bridge very slowly and the strain gauge will measure to the minute detail any separation in the cracks."

Long said the test results will determine what happens next.

Those tests will be conducted next Tuesday and Wednesday between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. PT, with full bridge closures lasting for 20 minutes at a time.

Long said there is no danger for the travelling public.

The bridge is a heavily used, 1.3-kilometrelink between Vancouver and North Vancouver and is part of the Trans-Canada Highway. It was builtbetween 1954 and1960.