Halifax’s Macdonald Bridge will close this weekend as work starts to remove toll plaza

The removal of the decades-old toll booths on Halifax bridges started on Friday.

Halifax’s Angus L. Macdonald Bridge will be closed this weekend as crews start removing the toll plaza.

The work will include the removal of toll booths, concrete barriers and gantries, electrical equipment, as well as resurfacing roadways and reconfiguring lanes.

Halifax Harbour Bridges (HHB) says the bridge will be closed from 7 p.m. Friday to 5:30 a.m. Monday.

“The pedestrian and bicycle lanes are expected to remain open, although users may encounter short delays for safety reasons,” reads a news release from HHB.

The bridge commission says the Macdonald Bridge will also close the following weekend if needed to complete the toll plaza removal work. That closure will be from 7 p.m. on March 21 to 5:30 a.m. on March 24.

“The plan is to do it two weekends back-to-back. If we do really well the first weekend, then we may not need the second weekend,” Steve Proctor, Halifax Harbour Bridges communication manager, told CTV Atlantic last week.

MacKay Bridge closures

The toll plaza will also be removed on the MacKay Bridge, although HHB hasn’t confirmed yet when those weekend closures will take place.

However, preparatory work on the MacKay is expected to start this month.

HHB says three weekend closures will be required to complete the toll plaza removal on the MacKay Bridge.

“Bridge users should exercise caution as the changes are underway. Even outside of the scheduled closures, drivers may encounter increased construction activity, with additional workers and equipment present on the bridges,” says HHB.

Toll-free bridge travel starts next week

Fees will no longer be required to cross either bridge as of 5 a.m. Monday – two weeks earlier than the province originally planned.

This will mark the first time a toll hasn’t been required on the bridges since the opening of the Macdonald Bridge 70 years ago.

Houston election promise

Premier Tim Houston made a campaign promise to eliminate the tolls in an effort to ease traffic congestion.

The province has said it’s turning the Halifax Harbour Bridge commission into a new Crown corporation.

The province will take over the bridge work and has set aside $86 million in the public works budget for bridge maintenance, as well as another $15 million for operating costs.

As for refunds, 200,000 MacPass customers are being advised to monitor their banking information and make sure it’s up to date to ensure refunds are received in April.

“I recommend customers go onto the MacPass website and update your credit card information,” said Proctor.

Proctor says Halifax Harbour Bridge Patrol will continue to monitor both bridges for traffic issues.

“Obviously one of our concerns is speeding and so we’re going to have increased enforcement at both bridges,” said Proctor.

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