Halifax Harbour Bridges (HHB) is reminding the public the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge will be closed to all traffic this weekend.
The bridge will close at 7 p.m. Friday and reopen at 5:30 a.m. Monday.
“There will be multiple crews of workers hauling material to build a platform above the roadway, above the pedestrian way, above the bicycle way, so that they can do the work for the rest of the summer up there without interfering with the traffic,” said Steve Proctor with Halifax Harbour Bridges.
Vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians will not be allowed to cross during that time.
“We don’t like to do it, but with this particular project we have to close everything because when you’re wielding multi-tonnes of metal up around, safety has to be the number one priority,” said Proctor.
HHB previously announced the weekend closure is part of “Project LifeSpan.”
The two-year, $70-million project will see the bridge’s towers stripped of paint that has accumulated over the past seven decades and allow for inspection and repairs.
HHB says other weekend closures may be needed.
“Depending on how this weekend goes, and how much wind there is, and how much rain. They can work in the rain, but because they’re going to be putting multi-tonne pieces of material up above the walkway or the pedestrian way, it may be hard,” said Proctor.
“Next weekend would be the next possible weekend, but we’re hoping to push through, get everything done. We brought in extra people to do just the hauling around of material.”
If all goes well, Proctor said the next closure related to this project wouldn’t be until November or December.
This closure comes ahead of what is expected to be a very busy weekend in Halifax. On Saturday alone, the Halifax Tides is hosting its inaugural game at the Wanderers Grounds and the Halifax Thunderbirds will play its first-ever home playoff game.
“We’ve made the people who run those venues, they’re aware of the closure. We will do everything we can at the MacKay Bridge to ensure that there’s no issues. Closing the Macdonald is not as big of an issue as closing the MacKay. It’s like feeding traffic into a much bigger straw,” said Proctor.
He said they don’t anticipate a lot of traffic gridlock like when the MacKay closes.
“We work with Halifax Transit, encourage people to think about what they’re doing, take the ferry if they can possibly do it. Make sure that if you’re going down to one of those games that you plan to just take a little extra driving time.”
He said cyclists or pedestrians impacted by the closure will be able to get help crossing the harbour.
“People who are inconvenienced, they can get bus tickets available from the operations centre in Dartmouth or we’re going to have somebody in the Bridge Patrol on the Halifax side, so just wheel up there, we’ll give you some bus tickets or ferry tickets and help you on your way.”
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