It’s day one of the closure of the Robie Street ramp off the MacKay Bridge in Halifax. The ramp closure is a bit of a milestone for the Windsor Street Exchange redevelopment project. Pipes can now go in, and other infrastructure can be installed while that new exit gets built over the next couple months. “It allows for work that needs to happen over this winter to occur and then also it’s an important piece of the final Windsor Street exchange design,” says Megan Soroka, HRM major projects program manager. Until then, drivers will have to go through the intersection on Windsor Street and use the ramp to Barrington Street or take the Macdonald Bridge. Soroka says once this work is finished, they’ll will have a clear path from the MacKay through to the Bedford Highway, adding it’s a case of short-term pain for long-term gain. “It’s really everyone who’s travelling through the Windsor Street Exchange on every mode of travel, so those travelling on transit will see improvements and their travel time inbound on the Bedford Highway. There will be new facilities for those who walk or cycle, the area will be more efficient for drivers and as well there will be an improvement for goods movement to and from the Port of Halifax,” said Soroka. According to city officials, it took between 20 and 30 minutes longer to cross the bridges than usual during rush hour Monday morning. There were a couple minor incidents on the bridge that added time to the commute. The Robie Street ramp is scheduled to reopen Nov. 27. Only the morning commute is affected because the outbound ramp from Massachusetts Avenue to the MacKay is still open. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
