KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Hazards on and seatbelts on before anything else.
- Leave the car only if you can reach a spot behind a barrier.
- Call 911 for injuries, smoke or a car stuck in a live lane.
- Say if you are on the Mitchell Island ramps, the span or near Bridgeport Road.
- Confirm the tow price before the truck hooks up.
By Zip Towing Bridgeport BC · Published October 28, 2026
What should you do first after a Knight Street Bridge breakdown?
Picture the evening rush: you are southbound on the Knight Street Bridge, heading home to Richmond, and the engine cuts out over the river. Hazard lights go on first. Ease as far right as you can without braking hard, then stop. Whether the cause is a flat tire, an empty tank or a dead battery, the fix can wait until everyone in the car is safe.
The Knight Street Bridge carries six lanes over the North Arm of the Fraser River and narrows to four over Mitchell Island, where the outside lanes become the island's off and on ramps. Traffic rarely stops, so keep your seatbelt on and your hazards flashing. At night, switch on the interior light so drivers can see people inside. With roadside help at any hour, there is no reason to rush out of the car.
Where on the Knight Street Bridge are you? It changes what you tell the tow truck
'On the Knight Street Bridge' covers more than a kilometre of road, so be specific when you call for a tow. The crossing comes in two parts: a short north bridge between Vancouver and Mitchell Island, and a much longer south bridge between Mitchell Island and Richmond. Southbound, the first Richmond interchange after the bridge is Bridgeport Road, followed by Jacombs Road, which is a southbound exit only. Give your direction first, then the spot that matches yours below.
| Where you stopped | What it means | What to tell dispatch |
|---|---|---|
| Short north bridge, Vancouver to Mitchell Island | Close to the Vancouver end | Your direction and that you are north of Mitchell Island |
| Mitchell Island off or on ramp | Slower traffic, but still a live lane | Which ramp, and the yard or business name you can see |
| Long south bridge, Mitchell Island to Richmond | The longest stretch, little room beside the barrier | Your direction and roughly how far from Mitchell Island |
| Off the bridge, near the Bridgeport Road interchange | In Richmond, with an exit close by | The nearest exit sign, such as Bridgeport Road or Jacombs Road |
A work van stalled on the Mitchell Island off-ramp: what now?
Mitchell Island is heavy industry and auto wreckers, and the Knight Street Bridge is the only way on and off, by the ramps at Mitchell Road. So picture a loaded work van that quits halfway down the off-ramp. Traffic there is slower than on the main lanes, but it is still a live lane, so even a simple roadside fix shouldn't be tried there. The same rules apply: hazards on, stay belted in unless you can get behind a barrier, and call 911 if you are blocking the ramp and can't get out safely.
When you call, name the ramp and the closest yard gate or business sign. Say what the vehicle is and roughly what it is carrying, because that decides the truck. Vans and pickups are usually light duty towing, and a flatbed tow suits anything that can't roll safely. Every tow truck reaches the island over the same bridge, so a clear description really helps.
Should you stay in the car or get out on the bridge?
On a bridge, staying buckled in is often the safer choice. There is little room between the lanes and the barrier, and stepping out on the traffic side puts you in the path of passing vehicles. Get out only if you can exit away from traffic and stand behind a barrier, well clear of the lanes. Our Hwy 99 safety checklist walks through the same choice on a highway shoulder.
Call 911 if anyone is hurt, if there is smoke or fire, or if you are stuck in a live lane and can't get out safely. Police can manage traffic around you, which a tow truck can't do on its own. After a collision, deal with injuries first; accident towing and your ICBC claim come after.
What happens when the tow truck reaches you on the Knight Street Bridge?
Follow the operator's directions; they may ask you to stay in the car while they set up. They will confirm where the car is going and the price before hooking up. From the bridge, most cars go home, to a mechanic in Richmond, or to a body shop after a crash. EVs and all-wheel drive cars often need to ride on a flatbed, and Teslas and other EVs are no exception.
Passing drivers have a part to play too. BC's Slow Down, Move Over rule asks drivers to slow down and move over for stopped vehicles with flashing lights, tow trucks included. If you usually cross the river on Hwy 99 instead, read our guide to the Oak Street Bridge approach.
Off the bridge: Bridgeport Road and north-east Bridgeport
Southbound, the Knight Street Bridge brings you into Richmond at the Bridgeport Road interchange, the first exit after the river. Bridgeport Rd is the area's main east-west road, busy all day with driveways and lot entrances, and it runs past the warehouses and yards of north-east Bridgeport. If your car is struggling on the bridge but still moving, taking that exit and pulling into a lot is far safer than stopping on the span. Zip Towing is based at 12127 Bridgeport Rd, so towing near Bridgeport Road is local work for us.
TransLink, which owns and maintains the bridge, describes it as the second busiest bridge in the Lower Mainland, with more than 100,000 crossings on an average weekday. With that much traffic, a clear location and a calm, buckled-in wait matter more than a quick look under the hood. For the full list of towing services or more local guides, see the Zip Towing blog.
Questions drivers ask
Can a tow truck get onto Mitchell Island if I break down there?
Yes. The island is reached by the Knight Street Bridge ramps at Mitchell Road, so give the yard or business name nearest you. A car tow off the island works like one anywhere else in Richmond.
Is it safe to walk off the Knight Street Bridge after a breakdown?
Usually it is safer to stay buckled in or wait behind a barrier. Walking along a busy bridge right after a breakdown puts you close to traffic, so only leave the car if you can reach a safe spot away from the lanes.
What if my car only needs a boost or a spare tire?
On the bridge itself it is usually safer to move the car first. Once it is somewhere safe, such as a lot off Bridgeport Rd, a battery boost or tire change may be all it needs.
Will I know the price before a tow truck on the Knight Street Bridge hooks up?
Yes. With Zip Towing, the price is confirmed before we hook up, so you can decide before anything is moved.
Can my car go to a body shop after a crash on the bridge?
Yes. After a collision, the car can go to the body shop you and ICBC agree on, and collision towing covers that trip.