The closure of Kelowna's Bennett Bridge for 12 hours due to a distraught driver raised serious questions about public safety and emergency access. The incident prompted calls for a second crossing and the consideration of a regional bomb squad. Police responded to the situation with a lengthy closure while the explosives unit was called in from the Lower Mainland. The mayor of Kelowna, Tom Dyas, acknowledged the need to assess the feasibility of a regional bomb squad due to the increasing number of similar incidents in the city.
The dramatic and lengthy closure of Kelowna's Bennett Bridge on Monday has raised serious questions about public safety and emergency access . As Victoria Femia reports, the incident has renewed calls for a second crossing and raised the idea of a regional bomb squad .The bridge was closed for 12 hours while RCMP responded to a distraught driver who blocked the eastbound lanes of the bridge with his white van. Police say the suspect made threatening remarks to officers at the scene.
“Based upon what happened Monday it was something that we will look at in the future. There are operational costs associated with regards to the equipment that they need, there are operational costs with regards to the staffing,” said Kelowna Mayor, Tom Dyas.Kelowna RCMP was questioned about the idea of a regional bomb squad during a press conference Monday, only saying that risks are continually evaluated.“We do make recommendations.
“As we encounter more of these, it just shines a little bit brighter light on it, that maybe we need to look at a little more thoroughly, get a better understanding of what the associated costs are, and see whether it’s something that’s actually feasible,” said Dyas.Weak loonie has ‘panicking’ snowbirds looking to sell Florida, Arizona homesParents, toss infant self-feeding devices ‘immediately’: Health CanadaU.S.
PUBLIC SAFETY EMERGENCY ACCESS SECOND CROSSING BOMB SQUAD KELOWNA BRIDGE
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