KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Low on fuel near a bridge? Leave the highway at the last exit before it.
- If the car stops on a bridge approach, stay out of the traffic lanes.
- Tell us your direction of travel; north and south sides are different trips.
- On a high-speed shoulder we may move the car first, then add fuel.
- Diesel work trucks: say so when you call.
Why do cars run out of fuel on the bridge approaches near Bridgeport?
Bridgeport sits where several of Richmond's busiest crossings meet. Hwy 99 runs just west toward the Oak Street Bridge, and the Knight Street Bridge carries traffic north to Vancouver by way of Mitchell Island. Drivers heading into the city often plan to fill up on the other side, then hit slow traffic on the approach and watch the gauge drop while they crawl. Once you are committed to a bridge ramp, there is no station and nowhere to turn off.
A stopped car on a bridge approach affects a lot of people. When a stalled vehicle blocked the right lane at the south end of the Oak Street Bridge, traffic on Hwy 99 backed up past Highway 91, according to the Richmond News. That is why we treat these calls with some urgency and why getting your exact location right matters. If your car has broken down for another reason, our guide to an Oak Street Bridge breakdown covers what to do next.
Out of gas on Hwy 99 or a bridge: fuel delivery in Bridgeport step by step
If the engine starts to sputter, look for the nearest exit, a lot or a side street. Coasting a little further to get off the highway is almost always worth it. On Bridgeport Rd, a lot entrance or a wide spot by a driveway is a far better place to wait than a live lane.
If the car stops on the highway or a bridge ramp, put the hazards on, and only get out if you can do it on the side away from traffic and wait behind a barrier. Then call us with the details in the table below. On a narrow shoulder with fast traffic, adding fuel where the car sits may not be safe. In that case we may tow it a short way to a safer spot first, using flatbed towing in Bridgeport when the car is AWD or should not roll on its wheels. Our Hwy 99 breakdown checklist has more on waiting safely.
| Where you stopped | What to tell us | What usually happens |
|---|---|---|
| Hwy 99 heading north toward the Oak Street Bridge | Direction, last exit you passed, any sign or overpass nearby | Fuel on the shoulder if it is safe, or a short move first |
| Knight Street Bridge approach | Northbound or southbound, and whether you passed the Mitchell Island turn-off | We plan the approach around bridge traffic |
| Ramps near the south end of the Oak Street Bridge | Which ramp, and which road you came from | Often a short move to a side road before fuelling |
| Bridgeport Rd near a lot entrance | Nearest business or address number | Fuel delivery where the car is parked |
| Anywhere, with smoke or warning lights | What you saw and heard | A tow from Bridgeport instead of fuel |
What happens after the fuel goes in?
We add enough to reach a station, stay while you start the car and make sure it keeps running. Then you drive to the nearest pump and fill up. If you are on Hwy 99 heading north, that may mean coming off at the next exit rather than carrying on over the bridge, so ask us for the nearest option before we leave.
Some engines are slow to restart after running completely dry, especially diesels. If the car will not catch after a fair try, stop cranking so you do not drain the battery. We can boost it, or switch to light-duty towing to your mechanic. Either way, the price for the new job is confirmed before we start.
Why call a local fuel delivery in Bridgeport, Richmond?
We are based at 12127 Bridgeport Rd, close to both the Knight Street Bridge and the Hwy 99 approaches, so these are roads we drive every day. We know which ramps leave room to work and which do not, and we will tell you straight when the safer plan is to move the car first. That is the value of towing in Bridgeport from a company that only works this corner of Richmond.
The same call can cover more than fuel. If a long crawl in traffic has left the battery weak, a battery boost is part of the visit. If it is late at night, our 24 hour roadside assistance works the same way at 3 a.m. as at noon.
Inside Bridgeport, each pocket brings its own kind of call, so we also cover fuel delivery in Tait, where the 1940s streets mean driveways and kerbside pickups, fuel delivery on River Drive for the condo parkades along the North Arm, fuel delivery on Mitchell Island with its single way on and off at the Knight Street Bridge, and fuel delivery on Number 5 Road for the warehouse and business-park lots north of Bridgeport Rd.
Hwy 99, the Oak Street Bridge ramps and the Knight Street Bridge
Near the south end of the Oak Street Bridge, the province built a bus-only connection from Bridgeport Road to southbound Hwy 99, with a signalled intersection at Sea Island Way. It is one more set of lanes and signals in an area already full of ramps, so when you call, name the road you were on and the last sign you passed rather than just saying Hwy 99.
The Knight Street Bridge is the other crossing we cover often. It is also the only way on and off Mitchell Island, so a car stopped on the approach can hold up island traffic too. If you are heading north and the fuel light comes on, fill up before you reach the bridge rather than hoping to make it across.
If you are running low anywhere around here, it is worth taking the next exit to a station, even if it costs a few minutes. If you do run dry, stay safe first and let roadside assistance come to you.
Questions drivers ask
Can you bring fuel to me on the Oak Street Bridge approach?
Yes, if it is safe to work there. On a narrow shoulder with fast traffic, we may move the car a short way first, then add fuel.
Should I walk to a gas station instead?
Not on a highway or bridge. Walking along Hwy 99 or a bridge ramp is dangerous. Stay safe behind a barrier and call us.
Do you bring diesel?
Yes, gas or diesel. Tell us which one your vehicle takes when you call, and whether it is a work truck.
My EV ran out of charge on Hwy 99. Can you help?
We can't add charge at the roadside. We take EVs on a flatbed to a charger or service centre.
The car still won't start after you added fuel. What now?
It may need a boost or a mechanic. We can do either, and we confirm the price before we start.