Lions Gate Bridge Conundrum.

[Seangie]

So we are currently parked at Capilano RV park in Vancouver.  (Google it)

What we would like to do is drive over Lions Gate Bridge in the bus (34k pounds) park it in Stanley Park for the day and then go back over the bridge at the end of the day.

Problem is bridge weight limit says no trucks over 13,000 KG or 28k pounds.

So I wanted to throw this out there to you guys. 

Im thinking the weight limit prevents commercial truckers from driving through downtown and into the park all hours of the day and night and keeps the traffic down.

Im wondering if our 5 minute drive over the bridge into the park would draw attention and if we should just do it anyways.  Whats the chances of getting a ticket (USA family on vacation with 4 kids clueless about weight limits) if we did get pulled over.  If we got pulled over at all.  How much would it be?  More than the cost of 10 gallons of fuel?

What would you guys do?

The other option is a 45 minnute drive all the way around through the city.

Thanks.

-Sean

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[gumpy]

Or, the weight restriction could be in place because that bridge is only rated to hold 28,000 lbs, and your exceeding it by 6,000 lbs might just be the ticket to getting a new
bridge built which would have a higher weight limitation.

Your call.

[HB of CJ]

Are you serious?  Or ... for the price of some fuel and the non happening nice short city tour in your Bus Conversion, you run the risk of citations, impoundment, searches, arrests, jail, etc..   What does your Bus Conversion weigh?

[gumpy]

Oh, and now that you've posted your desire to intentionally ignore the posted weight restriction on a public forum, guess how your argument of ignorance is going to play out?

[chessie4905]

Since you're not a truck........how far is the drop if it collapses? How much do two RVs weigh crossing at same time?

[luvrbus]

Transit buses cross that bridge all the time Sea Bus and the other I forgot the name of at the moment, I think the reason they don't want trucks is because they change the flow of lanes in the morning and afternoon.

Lol I hate to say I never saw that sign before and we have crossed it in our Eagle several times over the years

[Nel]

Go for it

[DoubleEagle]

Looks like the consensus is that you are taking a legal and financial risk. Either go around, or make a stab at contacting the bridge authority and ask if your bus would be permissible under bridge formula rules that takes axle spacing and axle loads under consideration.

[opus]

Go for it....but only if video is rolling.   

[oltrunt]

Go for it---but only like DE says!  Jack

[Seangie]

Dang some of you guys are sticklers.  Haha.  Ask Scott about how rules apply to me. 

Tried calling the authorities but its Canada Day (happy Canada Day to all the Canadians out there) and no one works on holidays here in Canada.  Imagine that?  Do gotta wait until Monday.

I thought for sure you guys would be looking at the construction, digging up resources and debating whether I would fall into the Ocean or not.

(I think if we time it to cross right when a cruise ship is passing underneath it we would be just fine.)

The construction of the bridge would hold way more than my 34k pounds.  Im not going to cause any damage.  Im certainly not falling into the ocean.

Im just trying to find out if the weight restriction is for commercial vehicles only (all the signs specifically say "trucks and commercial vehicles" over 13000KG) and if I as a private vehicle owner would be allowed to pass over the bridge.  Im certain with the RV park at the base of the bridge it happens all the time where big RVs over 28k pounds go over the bridge.

Again - I am being responsible here.  Just trying to find out (hopefully from a Canadian) what the deal is.  From what I can tell there wasnt a restriction on the bridge at all until they updated the steel plates and widened the lanes trying to reduce traffic and it looks like cutting commercial vehicles over that bridge contributed to that reduction.

I will do a live broadcast.  It will be the most exciting boringist thing youve ever watched.

-Sean

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[luvrbus]

I found some photos that shows buses and RV's crossing the Lion Gate but I am not smart enough to link the photos, go it for Sean I spoke with a friend that lives there he crosses it in his bus he said it's never had a problem yet in a 45,000 lb bus

[gumpy]

Oh look, there's your bus!

[Seangie]

Oh look, there's your bus!

Baaahaaa...   Man that would sure clear up my todo list.

Maybe I can find some of those drag chutes to weld onto the roof....  just in case.

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[Tony LEE]

Do you call in to weigh stations that say "trucks and commercial vehicles must enter"