Macdonald Bridge to Close This Weekend as MacKay Bridge Work Continues
The Macdonald Bridge will be fully closed from Friday at 8 p.m. until Monday at 5:30 a.m. for dismantling work, coinciding with ongoing road construction on the MacKay Bridge's Massachusetts Avenue ramp that has affected downtown Halifax traffic since September 21.
The Macdonald Bridge will be closed to all vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists from 8 p.m. on Friday until 5:30 a.m. on Monday. The closure allows crews to dismantle the overhead platform and sidewalk shed used during Project LifeSpan work on the Halifax Main Tower.
Project LifeSpan included blasting old paint, inspection, repairs, and applying a three-coat protective system to the steel infrastructure. Work on the Dartmouth Main Tower was completed last season.
Bridge traffic between Halifax and Dartmouth will be more restricted than usual this weekend. The closure coincides with ongoing road work on the Massachusetts Avenue ramp on Robie Street, which started Sept. 21 and is scheduled to run until Nov. 27. That construction affects the Bayne Street ramp connection, vital for downtown traffic around the Windsor Street Exchange. Existing congestion created by the MacKay Bridge work adds to the impact of the Macdonald Bridge closure, and drivers are advised to plan ahead and allow extra travel time.
Halifax Harbour Bridges (HHB) instructs MacKay Bridge users travelling from Dartmouth toward Robie Street and downtown Halifax to use alternate routes along Windsor Street, Young Street, and Barrington Street.
Pedestrians and cyclists have access to free transit options during the closure. They can obtain free tickets for Halifax Transit, up to a maximum of four per person. Free transit tickets can be picked up at the operations centre in the Macdonald Bridge administration building at 125 Wyse Rd. in Dartmouth.