VANCOUVER - For the second time in two weeks, the operators of Metro Vancouver's new Port Mann Bridge are apologizing for weather-related problems on the span between Surrey and Coquitlam.

Freezing temperatures and fog turned the bridge into a skating rink during the morning commute on Thursday, leading to crashes involving 40 cars that injured at least one person and caused massive traffic jams.

Max Logan, a spokesman for the Transportation Investment Corp. which manages the bridge, admits the span was not properly de-iced overnight and apologized to drivers.

He says the contractor responsible for servicing the bridge did not apply enough salt brine on the bridge deck to deal with the ice.

The company also issued an apology two weeks ago after a snow storm resulted in chunks of ice falling from bridge support cables onto vehicles below, damaging about 250, injuring two people and forcing the closure of the bridge for several hours.

The company offered to cover insurance claims resulting from the damage and waived the tolls for the affected drivers. (CKNW,News1130)

© Copyright 2013