Victoria, B.C., closes bridge to rail traffic

Officials in Victoria, British Columbia, on Friday closed the city’s Johnson Street bridge to rail traffic after an inspection discovered corrosion of key structural supports. Pedestrian and bicycle use of the bridge remains unaffected.

Engineers with Stantech Consulting Ltd. found significant deterioration to steel hanger supports at four locations on the bridge. In some spots, engineers could see daylight through the steel. "It’s just been corroding over the years," structural engineer Paul Dudzinski said, addressing local media.

The city must now decide whether to repair the rail section of the bridge or close it permanently a few months earlier than expected. Earlier plans called for the bridge to be removed early next year, with a new Johnson Street bridge to replace it; the new bridge would not include rail access. Repairs to the current bridge would take about one month.

New Westminster, B.C.-based Southern Railway of British Columbia (SRY) maintains the track, and was to begin seasonal service using thebridge next week, under its subsidiary Southern Railway of Vancouver Island. Thetrack is owned by the not-for-profit Island Corridor Foundation, a partnership includingFirst Nations representatives and local governments on Vancouver Island. <br><br>

Victoria voters last November approved a referendum to borrow C$49.2 million to replace the bridge, which was deemed by city engineers to be too costly to repair and bring up to seismic standards. But city councilors subsequently decided against including a rail crossing as part of project, projected to cost C$77 million in total, because Victoria was unable to secure financial assistance from other public or private-sector partners.