Commuters trapped for 3 hours during one of the city's worst traffic jams
Thursday’s rush hour traffic along Hastings and the North Shore could go down as one of Vancouver’s worst traffic jams in recent history.
And sadly, that’s no exaggeration.
Traffic woes started in the early afternoon when a concrete truck rolled over on the McGill Street on-ramp at approximately 2 pm.
@AM730Traffic McGill on ramp east bound. Caused by drivers who don’t know how to merge. Truck driver risked his life to save killing idiots pic.twitter.com/ZYnhLxY2X9
— SilversidesFishing (@sturgeonguide) November 7, 2019
As a result, eastbound traffic was closed, with several lanes of traffic reduced to one lane.
UPDATE – #BCHwy1 EB Vehicle incident at McGill St on-ramp. Reduced to one lane. Expect heavy delays. McGill St on-ramp to #BCHwy1 EB is closed.
Info here: https://t.co/78z5GJfWAm#NorthVan #Vancouver— Drive BC (@DriveBC) November 7, 2019
The closure remained for several hours, creating immense congestion and delays within the North Shore, even as late as 8 pm.
⚠️Heads Up – #BCHwy1 closed EB at McGill. Plan to recover the McGill onramp cement truck will divert EB traffic to the McGill/Hastings offramp and then back onto #BCHwy1. Watch for and obey traffic control personnel.
Details: https://t.co/78z5GJfWAm #SDMO #NorthVan pic.twitter.com/R0F1tZpmAT— Drive BC (@DriveBC) November 8, 2019
Additional incidents on the Lions Gate Bridge and Highway 1 in North Vancouver only created more commuter chaos.
CLEAR – Police incident on the #LionsGateBridge #BCHwy99 has closed the center lane. With North Shore already congested, expect long delays.
— Drive BC (@DriveBC) November 8, 2019
REMINDER – #BCHwy1 – EB Vehicle incident West of Westview Dr. in #NorthVan. All EB lanes blocked, diverting at Capilano Rd. WB lanes getting through. Expect heavy delays and congestion.
Info here: https://t.co/Qaj9Bxy7tU#NorthVan #WestVan pic.twitter.com/twVZCphph1— Drive BC (@DriveBC) November 8, 2019
TransLink reported issues on a number of buses both in and around North Vancouver, with delays of up to two hours.
#RiderAlert 210 Vancouver/Upper Lynn Valley is experiencing delays up to 120min due to traffic congestion. ^SB
— TransLink BC (@TransLink) November 8, 2019
#RiderAlert 211 Phibbs Exchange/Vancouver/Seymour is experiencing delays up to 50min due to traffic congestion. ^SB
— TransLink BC (@TransLink) November 8, 2019
#RiderAlert 130 Metrotown Station/Pender/Phibbs Exchange is experiencing delays up to 110min due to traffic congestion. ^SB
— TransLink BC (@TransLink) November 8, 2019
#RiderAlert 228 Lonsdale Quay/Lynn Valley is experiencing delays up to 100min due to traffic congestion. ^SB
— TransLink BC (@TransLink) November 8, 2019
Here’s a look at what some commuters had to go through during Thursday’s nightmare traffic jam.
@CityofVancouver @CityOfNorthVan
3.5 hours in traffic and not even close to getting into Vancouver.1accident causes hours of traffic. We need more ways to get to and from north Vancouver. Driving is impossible these days. Transit isn’t any better. #DoSomethingaboutthis— REECE (@newtwithead) November 8, 2019
My God, I’m not sure why there’s such a problem with traffic in general on the North Shore here in the Vancouver area. One downed dump truck and stuck in an insane line of traffic being down to one bridge – ONE BRIDGE – for three hours and reduced Seabus. Way to go!
— Kim Robarts (@presca1) November 8, 2019
took me 2 hours & 20mins to reach downtown #Vancouver from the north..1 hour waiting for 240 bus & the rest of tine spent on the road due to unexplainable severe traffic congestion..🤪😼 twas a long,bumpy journey..😑#bus #road #traffic #experience #night#vancity
— Marie A. 틴틴 ,BSN,RN (@icmarie_0220) November 8, 2019
I never drive on Marine and Esplanade at this time – is this really what it’s like every day or did something happen on the bridge? Total parking lot. #northvan pic.twitter.com/EDf8H0yENW
— Martyn Schmoll (@martynschmoll) November 8, 2019
I don’t understand the north shore today. Like what is wrong with this. Like over 5 accidents and it took my friend 5 hours to get from Park Royal to Iron workers area. Ridiculousness.
— Erik (@ENieweler) November 8, 2019
Sat on the same street for half an hour. Maybe vancouver traffic IS that bad.
— Antonio 🎄 (@orbitantonio) November 8, 2019
Wtf happened on the roads today?! Follow-up question… HOW?!
— Chris Losito (@chrislosito) November 8, 2019
north van traffic hittin different tonight
— 🧚🏼♀️𝕷𝖎𝖑 𝕭𝖔𝖓𝖌𝖜𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖗⚔️ (@CirnoXCX) November 8, 2019
Stuck on Keith road on north van since 5pm 😬😬🤦♀️
— E. SZ. (@EuroSZabina) November 8, 2019
Traffic congestion? No it was a parking lot on the North Shore tonight from 2nd Narrows to Lonsdale!
— Bob Prenovost (@BobPrenovost) November 8, 2019
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