Halifax's Macdonald Bridge to Close Entirely Over Busy Weekend for Equipment Removal
The Macdonald Bridge in Halifax will be fully closed to vehicles and pedestrians from Friday at 8 p.m. to Monday at 5:30 a.m. to remove equipment from previous bridgework. The closure coincides with several major weekend events, prompting authorities to deploy extra tow trucks, increase patrols, and offer free transit passes.
The Macdonald Bridge in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is scheduled for a complete closure beginning Friday at 8 p.m. and lasting until Monday morning at 5:30 a.m. The shutdown will halt all vehicular and pedestrian traffic across the bridge while crews remove large pieces of equipment used during previous bridgework.
The timing overlaps with the first weekend of October, which features several major local events, including the CIBC Run for the Cure organized by the Canadian Cancer Society, a Halifax Tides game, the Wine Fair, the Halifax Fall Home Show, and the Bluenose Ghost Festival. Halifax Harbour Bridges spokesperson Steve Proctor stated that while the timing was not ideal due to these concurrent events, it was chosen as the "best of the worst days" available.
Motorists and event attendees should anticipate travel delays and inconvenience throughout the weekend. To manage traffic flow and mitigate disruptions, extra tow truck coverage and additional bridge patrols will be deployed. An operation centre will also monitor the bridge using 120 cameras.
For those seeking alternatives to driving, up to four free transit passes per person can be obtained from offices on the Dartmouth side of the Macdonald Bridge. These offices will remain open around the clock for the duration of the closure.