A New Approach to Prevent Overpass Collisions

A local Saskatoon businessman has developed an innovative solution to prevent oversized vehicles from colliding with overpasses. Vince Hardy, CEO of ConX Wireless, was inspired to create this system after hearing about the first collision in early March.

"The first overpass hit literally was like, 'Wow, OK, I got to do this,'" Hardy said. His idea involves using two laser devices that cast an invisible beam to measure a vehicle's height as it approaches an overpass. If a truck breaks the beam, the system sends a signal to a large LED sign on the overpass, warning drivers up to a kilometre away.

The system can also alert police and city administrators when a breach occurs. It functions as a regular road sign when not in use, according to Hardy.

"We kind of took it a step further to work the way it is," he explained. "They use similar products for assembly lines, conveyor belts, and airports for luggage. It's very common."

Hardy estimates that installing the technology would be a straightforward process that would take only a few days. If the city approves the project, procuring the hardware from Germany would take the most time, estimated at a few weeks.

"Locally, we do the software for it between the device and the server. We do all of the assemblies here," he added.

City of Saskatoon Responds

The City of Saskatoon stated in an emailed statement to Global News that final repair costs following the four March overpass strikes have not been finalized. Some cost recovery details are associated with active claims, and preliminary figures cannot be shared until that process is complete.

Previous cost estimates for the first two strikes totaled $750,000. Hardy claims his technology would cost around a quarter of that.

"We're still awaiting them to contact us to at least learn about this to see if there's a benefit to them or not," said Hardy, adding that small-scale testing has given him confidence in his system's ability to prevent future collisions.

Todd Grabowski, engineering manager for the City of Saskatoon, told Global News that people are welcome to reach out to the city directly for consideration. He emphasized the responsibility of professional drivers to ensure their vehicles' height does not exceed posted limits on overpasses in Saskatchewan.

Ongoing Repairs and Future Plans

At a city council meeting in March, Terry Schmidt, Saskatoon's transportation and construction general manager, shared a report on the initial strikes. The administration is considering pilot programs involving CCTV and overheight sensing devices at locations experiencing repeated collisions.

Repairs for three out of the four overpasses are still underway, with completion timelines depending on each structure's condition and priority. Repairs for the remaining overpasses are planned for later this year.

"There are liability risks that come with that if they are not operating, and a truck hits the bridge, then it becomes a liability issue, possibly. So we are looking at all of those things and will prepare a report on that," Schmidt told council.

Saskatchewan already uses electronic warning systems at two overpasses in Regina and Moose Jaw, which have been in place for around a decade. These systems are set to be decommissioned as projects to raise overpass heights to the new ministry standard of 5.3 metres begin.

"Unfortunately, Saskatchewan’s extreme heat and cold continually cause malfunctions and the systems require heavy maintenance," the ministry said. "The ministry will always consider new and innovative ways to improve safety but the technology must be cost-effective, reliable and work consistently in Saskatchewan’s climate."

Current Repair Status

The Highway 16 overpass that was the first to be hit on March 5 has since been fully repaired. Tenders for fixing the 108th Street overpass over Circle Drive, the second to be struck on March 11, are currently open, according to the city.

The Canadian Pacific Railway overpass, which was the third to be hit on March 22, is being managed by the CPKC rail company. Meanwhile, repairs to the McKercher Drive overpass over College Drive, also struck on March 22, are to be completed on a time-and-materials basis "when scheduling allows" through the bridge minor maintenance program.