The Burlington Skyway bridge is shown in 2003. Police say a crash on the bridge on July 31, 2014, caused ‘significant structural damage’ and its Toronto-bound lanes would be closed until further notice.KAZ NOVAK/The Canadian Press
Police say engineers are working to determine when the Burlington Skyway can be reopened after a crash shut down the bridge linking the Hamilton-Niagara region to Toronto.
Toronto-bound drivers are being asked to plan alternative routes after a dump truck slammed into scaffolding on the bridge Thursday – bringing afternoon rush-hour traffic to a standstill and shutting down the northbound lanes.
Thursday afternoon's collision came just before two busy events for Ontario commuters: The August civic-holiday long weekend, and the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Toronto, commonly called Caribana.
Police say the bridge structure sustained "significant damage" and that the Toronto-bound Queen Elizabeth Way remains closed between Eastport Drive and North Shore Boulevard, adding travellers can expect significant delays.
Structural engineers were on the scene Friday to evaluate the damage and will determine when it is safe to reopen the highway.
Police say the truck driver is charged with impaired driving and exceeding 80 milligrams of blood alcohol content in a motor vehicle.
Sukhvinder Singh Rai, 34, of Brampton, Ont., has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear in a Hamilton court on Aug. 22.
Three other vehicles – a transport truck and two cars – were also damaged in the crash.