Incident Overview

In a dramatic turn of events on Thursday, Vancouver police were forced to block traffic and suspend service on the SkyTrain's Millennium Line due to an alarming incident involving an 'unstable crane' located near VCC-Clark Station.

TransLink's Response

TransLink, the region's transit authority, took to social media at around 11 a.m. to announce the service suspension. Buses on the 84 route, which typically connect to VCC-Clark, were rerouted to terminate at the nearby Commercial-Broadway Station during this unexpected disruption. Thankfully, the Expo Line remained unaffected by the incident.

Resumption of Services

By 1:30 p.m., operations had resumed, signaling the end to the upheaval that gripped the area. The Vancouver Police Department offered updates on the situation, informing the public that traffic was restricted in both directions between Clark and Glen Drives, as well as along Keith Drive between East 6th and 7th Avenues while crews managed the precarious situation with the crane.

Construction Context

This incident unfolded in a busy construction zone, notably close to where Great Northern Way transitions to East 6th Avenue. At the heart of the construction activities is a new 10-storey mass-timber office building named 'The Hive,' which is set to become the new headquarters for ICBC.

Eyewitness Accounts

Eyewitnesses captured alarming images from the scene, revealing a large wooden beam precariously suspended from the crane, seemingly at a critical angle above the structure. Responding quickly, the Vancouver Police stated that the vicinity had been evacuated as a safety precaution.

Official Statements

In a reassuring update from VPD spokesperson Const. Tania Visintin, it was confirmed that no injuries had occurred and there were reasonable expectations that the load could come down safely onto the street. However, she cautioned that the situation was still being monitored closely, leaving some uncertainty over how the day would ultimately conclude.

Looking Ahead

While the immediate crisis appears to have subsided, officials are likely to continue investigations into the incident, ensuring that such destabilizing occurrences are curbed in Vancouver's bustling construction landscape. Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops!