Dump truck takes out traffic signal in east Vancouver near Costco

A dump truck’s partially raised bed caught a traffic signal at 192nd Avenue and Southeast First Street in east Vancouver on Monday evening, causing about $100,000 in damage.

The signals at the busy intersection near the Costco store are on a four-way flash until a new signal mast arm can be ordered and installed, according to a Facebook post from the Vancouver Public Works Department.

A video shared on social media shows the truck, with the bed raised, turning left from First Street north onto 192nd Avenue. The truck bed catches the signal mast arm and bends it almost 90 degrees before the arm breaks. The truck also catches a traffic light over the northbound lanes of 192nd.

The intersection is usually busy, with about 20,000 cars passing through on a daily basis, according to Public Works spokeswoman Nicole Walters.

A temporary solution will be implemented in one or two weeks, Walters said. A permanent replacement will take several months for procurement of necessary materials and installation.

The truck was working on a private construction project, Walters said.

Walters said the driver indicated to police the truck was not equipped with an alarm to alert the driver when the bucket portion of the truck was not fully lowered — a typical safety feature in dump trucks.

The city will pursue reimbursement of the costs to repair and replace the damaged signal, she said.