(Gatineau, Quebec, 24 March 2004) - The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) today issued one recommendation in its final investigation report of the December 18, 2000 accident in which a barge struck the Pitt River Highway Bridge, located near Delta, B.C.No one was injured in the incident. There was extensive damage to the protection pier, but no pollution and no major disruption to either highway bridge traffic, or to marine traffic.Although a number of factors may contribute to transportation accidents, the TSB report indicates that existing documentation does not contain information about signal lights for the various railway bridges nor does it contain any information about the Pitt River Highway Bridge that was in previous regulations.The report also notes that vessels, bridge structures and bridge users may continue to be placed at undue risk during vessel transits, given the lack of coordination among parties responsible for ensuring efficient and safe operation of bridges. The Board's recommendation M03-04 states that: The Fraser River Port Authority and the provincial Ministry of Transportation, in collaboration with the bridge tenders and vessel operators, review and, if necessary amend, their current policies, practices and procedures, and ensure implementation so that the safety of vessels, bridges and bridge traffic is not compromised.The TSB is an independent agency operating under its own Act of Parliament. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.-30-
