Published in 24 Hours Vancouver & Sun News Network | May 27, 2013 | Circulation: 251,700 (24 Hours)

Vancouver travellers aren’t the only ones inconvenienced by the collapse of a Washington state bridge.

With roughly three-quarters of B.C.’s $16 billion in annual south-bound exports dependent on the Interstate 5, business and transport unions are anxious about the economic losses incurred since the Skagit River bridge buckled and collapsed after being struck by an Alberta trucker May 23.

With traffic heavy and 40-minute delays reported at the border, Washington state has announced its quick fix to replace the bridge won’t be ready for three weeks.

That delay doesn’t sit well with the approximately 70,000 vehicles travelling the I-5 each day from Canada

Truckers carrying everything from lumber to electronics, said the efforts are going too slowly.