BC to pay deductible for cars damaged by falling snow from bridges

Decision follows a startling increase of claims on vehicles hit by slush while crossing certain bridges

Insurance News

By Lyle Adriano

BC Transportation Minister Todd Stone announced yesterday that the provincial government will pay the deductible for vehicles damaged by snow and ice falling on certain bridges.

A storm on Monday may have caused snow buildup on parts of the structure of the Alex Fraser and Port Mann bridges. The melting slush and ice dripping from these structures are heavy enough to damage windshields.

Sam Corea, spokesperson for the Insurance Corp. of BC (ICBC) told Vancouver Sun in an email that, as of Tuesday afternoon, the public insurer had received 40 claims related to damage caused by falling snowmelt. Thirty of those claims, he said, were from owners of vehicles crossing both bridges.

“ICBC is reviewing the claims from the bridges, but it appears most are for windshield damage and a few with hood or roof damage,” Corea explained. “We’re very thankful that no-one was hurt during these incidents, but we are not happy at all that vehicles were damaged by falling snow and ice.”

Minister Stone also announced that the Transportation Investment Corp. will refund tolls for drivers affected by the falling snow and ice on the Port Mann.

Stone advised drivers whose vehicles were on the receiving end of falling ice on either bridge to first contact the ICBC to start a claim, then call the BC Ministry of Transportation to have their deductible refunded.

“I want to say very clearly to the people of British Columbia that we can and we will do better.”

The transportation minister added that safety measures will be deployed before the next snowfall hits Metro Vancouver, which is anticipated to be on Thursday.

Stone said that officials did a full inspection of the cables and towers of both bridges. He also added that officials will continue to closely monitor both bridges to ensure safety.

Vancouver Sun reported that de-icing agents were being sprayed on the beams and tower of the Alex Fraser Bridge in preparation for the next snowfall. Stone confirmed that this process will be repeated as necessary to prevent snow and ice accumulation. He also revealed that since the bridge’s cables do not cross the travelling lanes, it is rare for snow or ice to hit vehicles on the Alex Fraser; Stone suspects that either high winds may have played a role in the snowfall, or that the de-icer was not applied frequently enough.

Falling snow and ice on the Port Mann was also questioned, as the bridge’s 288 cables were fitted with collars in 2013 designed to drop and dislodge snow buildup. Stone said that a contractor will run the collar system more frequently and earlier in the snowfall to knock off any accumulation.


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