November 7, 2023

YET ANOTHER TRUCK LOSES LOAD UNDER SOUTH GRAVENHURST OVERPASS

Photos and story Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — Traffic was snarled through town here again this afternoon after another transport spilled its load of prime two-by-four lumber on Hwy. 11 under the south-end bypass and entrance to Gravenhurst.

It’s the second similar roll-over in the past year at the same location where over the years several southbound trucks have missed the corner and dumped their cargo.

The latest accident, in which the driver walked away without apparent injuries, happened at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday.

**Northbound traffic enters Gravenhurst over a lumber truck that rolled over this afternoon at 2:45 p.m. closing Hwy. 11 for hours into the evening Tuesday.**

Southbound traffic on the highway was at first diverted in through town and back out onto the highway the first 90 minutes before being re-routed through Southgate Plaza for a time and back on the road.

Cars were slowed on Muskoka Road South and Bethune Drive South, but were eventually allowed to continue south.

Northbound traffic over the bridge was not affected by the spill under the bridge.

Lumber was spewed more than 100 metres along the highway after the truck lost the wood and before tipping over and coming to a rest just a few metres south beneath the overpass.

Some cars and trucks right behind the accident had to back up to Pinedale Road to get off the highway.

Police and fire crews were still on the scene at 4:30 p.m.

The highway will likely be closed for several more hours as a Currie heavy tow-truck rights the vehicle and the two-by-fours are picked up.

But the road remained closed with traffic still detoured after 10 p.m.

This is the latest accident on the treacherous stretch of highway that has seen dozens of similar incidents.

A Fowler Construction road maintenance worker estimated there are at least two such cases a year at the location.

As far as anyone can remember right now, thankfully, there has never been a fatality here.

An MTO worker on site, new to the job, said the Ministry of Transportation is well aware of the hazard, which continues to see truck rollovers despite remedial measures to slow drivers.

Including a lot of signage and large hazard lights.

Police say speed may have contributed to the cause.

Town residents and member of the public caught up in the regular traffic jams have been pushing for years — decades — for the overpass to be corrected.

Plans exist for a road makeover following much new retail growth at the south-end core of Gravenhurst. However they’ve never been executed.

Could this latest accident be the catalyst for the province to speed up a safe clover-leaf intersection?

Councillor Penny Varney, who just heard after 4 p.m., said she can only imagine the impact of when new apartments and a hotel open late this year and next.