{"id":14765,"date":"2025-01-29T03:37:35","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T03:37:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/01\/29\/kelowna-bridge-closure-reignites-talks-regarding-second-crossing-regional-bomb-squad\/"},"modified":"2025-01-29T03:37:35","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T03:37:35","slug":"kelowna-bridge-closure-reignites-talks-regarding-second-crossing-regional-bomb-squad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/01\/29\/kelowna-bridge-closure-reignites-talks-regarding-second-crossing-regional-bomb-squad\/","title":{"rendered":"Kelowna bridge closure reignites talks regarding second crossing, regional bomb squad"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The WR Bennett Bridge<\/a> was the focus of a bomb scare Monday, reigniting calls for a regional explosives unit.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

The explosives unit was subsequently called in from the Lower Mainland, ultimately leading to the lengthy closure.<\/p>\n

\u201cBased 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,\u201d said Kelowna Mayor, Tom Dyas.<\/p>\n

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Kelowna RCMP was questioned about the idea of a regional bomb squad during a press conference Monday, only saying that risks are continually evaluated.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe do make recommendations. At the end of the day it\u2019s up to the BC RCMP to determine the best appointment for resources,\u201d said Insp. Chris Goebel.<\/p>\n

In less than a year, the bomb squad was called to three separate incidents in Kelowna, most recently to Leon Avenue for a suspicious package three weeks ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we encounter more of these, it just shines a little bit brighter light on it, that maybe we need to look at (a bomb squad) a little more thoroughly, get a better understanding of what the associated costs are, and see whether it\u2019s something that\u2019s actually feasible,\u201d said Dyas.<\/p>\n