Bridge crash cut off hospital access in Revelstoke, B.C.: mayor

A recent crash in Revelstoke, B.C., has led officials to ask for more routes leading to the only hospital in the Kootenay community. 

On Aug. 1, a city-owned truck damaged a bridge leading to the Queen Victoria Hospital at around 11:50 a.m. PT, shutting down traffic for two hours in the municipality about 155 kilometres northeast of Kelowna. 

The crash also left residents on either side of the bridge stranded, with those living in the residential area on the south side of the bridge unable to get through to the rest of town. 

The Fourth Street bridge crosses the Illecillewaet River, and also provides access to Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Its closure has highlighted the need for another access route for the community, says Revelstoke's mayor.

Gary Sulz confirmed that a city-owned vacuum truck hit the cross beams on the bridge, damaging both the bridge and the truck. 

Two city employees suffered minor injuries in the crash, according to the mayor. Sulz says other city staff and engineers were quickly on site to assess and clean up the damage. 

Francesca Williams with the City of Revelstoke says the bridge was reopened at 1:45 p.m. with a weight restriction. Later in the day, the weight restriction was removed and a speed limit of 15 km/h was added.

"By 6 p.m., [the bridge] was opened and people could cross as they did normally," Sulz said. 

He adds that in an emergency, there is a pedestrian bridge that could be used.

"My understanding is it's just wide enough to get an ambulance across," Sulz told CBC News. 

On Thursday, that option wasn't needed.

Interior Health said in an emailed statement to CBC News that no impacts to patients, staff or care have been identified because of the bridge closure. 

"Throughout this incident, Interior Health worked closely with the City of Revelstoke ... and other relevant stakeholders to ensure continuous communication and minimize any impact on patient care and hospital operations," Angela Szabo, director of clinical operations for Interior Health, said in the statement. 

B.C. Emergency Health Services echoed that statement, saying that its operations were not impacted by the crash and it is not aware of any patient impacts.

One way in, one way out

Sulz says because the Fourth Street bridge is a community-owned road, there are little options for provincial funding and support to add another access route to the hospital.

"We're looking at, and have been looking at for a while, a potential second crossing, and where we put that, how we put that, and how we fund that is really the key," he said. 

The mayor says there are currently three bridges in the community — one on Highway 1, one on Big Eddy Road and another on Fourth Street.

"We've asked the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure — who owns these bridges? What are our responsibilities?" Sulz said. "And they tell us that for the two bridges, Big Eddy and Illecillewaet, those are our responsibility."

He adds that a new bridge could end up costing taxpayers anywhere from $17 million to $35 million.

"The residents have heard us talk about it before, and they want to see it, but we can't put all of this on taxpayers," said Sulz, who is calling for provincial assistance.

Interior Health said it supports ongoing discussions about a second crossing. 

"We remain committed to working collaboratively with the City of Revelstoke," Szabo said. 

Sulz pointed out that the current bridge is old, and is also in need of replacement. 

But he says there are no concrete plans to replace the current bridge or add a second crossing, with the city already undertaking a costly $15 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade. 

"Because of what's happened, this will be elevated, at least to some degree, where we'll be having more wholesome discussions about how we move forward, and when we can move forward," he said. 

In an email to CBC News on Tuesday, B.C.'s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure confirmed it is responsible for provincial infrastructure and assists the City of Revelstoke with maintenance of the municipal Fourth Street bridge. It said it has no plans for an additional crossing in the city.