Barge collision with Arthur Laing Bridge sparks traffic chaos in Vancouver
An overnight barge strike of the Arthur Laing Bridge triggered major traffic delays during the morning commute in Vancouver on Friday, with YVR warning passengers of travel delays.
According to Staff Sgt. Simon Lee of the Richmond RCMP, police received a call on Feb. 13, around 12:38 a.m., that a barge had collided with the Arthur Laing Bridge.
Traffic in both directions was closed for several hours. While northbound traffic onto the bridge between Vancouver has since been reopened, southbound traffic has only reopened one lane for a portion near midspan.
UPDATE:
Northbound traffic onto the Arthur Laing Bridge has been reopened. Southbound traffic is also reopened but only one lane for a portion near midspan. pic.twitter.com/JONrw0JyFP— Richmond Block Watch (@RmdBlockWatch) February 13, 2026
- You might also like:
- 'GTA Vancouver edition': Car filmed driving along seawall stuns onlookers
- Major section of a popular North Vancouver trail has permanently closed
- Here's what's open and closed in Vancouver for Family Day this year
YVR issued a warning to travellers and drivers that they should expect delays getting to and from Vancouver International Airport today due to the incident.
“Currently one southbound lane of the bridge is closed and while both northbound lanes are open, delays are possible in that direction as well,” announced YVR online. “Engineering assessments are being done to facilitate repairs and further updates will be provided.
Heavy traffic at Granville and 70th in Vancouver on the morning on Friday, Feb. 13/City of Vancouver
“YVR recommends anyone needing to get to the airport consider taking Canada Line or alternate routes.”
Traffic delays lingered throughout the routes to YVR, with a Vancouver resident posting on social media that traffic to the airport was “barely moving.”
I’m at work here at SW Marine and Oak…traffic to the airport is barely and I mean BARELY moving…wow!
— Ken James (@kjames_2001) February 13, 2026
Google Maps
This is the second vessel collision to close a Metro Vancouver bridge in the span of a few weeks.
On Tuesday, Jan. 20, an “incident involving a marine vessel” closed the Westham Island Bridge until further notice, according to TransLink.
Repairs to the damaged Westham Island Bridge have begun, and the full closure to vehicles and pedestrians will remain in effect until further notice.
In a recent bulletin, TransLink states the decision follows strong feedback from the farming community, with residents making it clear that restoring the bridge as quickly as possible is the top priority — even if it means a full short-term disruption.
The full closure to pedestrians will allow construction crews to work continuously without frequent stops, helping to shorten the overall repair timeline.