Flatbed drivers ticketed for Placentia bridge crossing

RCMP ticketed the drivers of two flatbed trucks after they illegally crossed the Placentia lift bridge Wednesday.

The rigs were carrying prefabricated houses. Police stopped them almost immediately after they went over the bridge.

As the result of a government inspection, there is a 13,000 kilogram weight restriction on the bridge.

Placentia Mayor Bill Hogan told CBC News one of the trucks weighed about 20,000 kilograms, the other around 25,000 kilograms.

An alternate route, over a dirt road, adds about 20 minutes onto the trip for commercial vehicles.

Hogan said the road is in much better shape than it was when heavy traffic was diverted onto it two weeks ago.

However, he still doesn't think the provincial government understands how dire the situation is for the community.

"I don't think that the province actually grasps they sense the urgencybut they don't grasp fully, and are not reacting to, this emergency with the urgency it deserves," said Hogan.