Halifax’s MacKay Bridge to close this weekend

Halifax Harbour Bridges (HHB) says the A. Murray MacKay Bridge will be closed this weekend.

The closure, which starts at 8 p.m. Friday, is due to “necessary work.”

“During the closure, crews will complete essential maintenance activities, remove cable inspection platforms, and—after an extended closure—reconnect the Princess Margaret Boulevard ramps,” reads a news release from HHB.

The ramps will be fully accessible when the bridge reopens at 5:30 a.m. Monday.

The speed limit for the entire bridge will also be 70 km/h starting Monday, and HHB says enforcement measures will be in effect.

“The objective was to remove barriers to have a better flow of traffic on those roads, right? So, increasing that speed limit makes sense,” said Dalhousie University transportation professor Ashan Habib.

“There is always a risk, particularly I would say in the initial time, but the design speed is there for the 70 km or more.”

The Angus L. Macdonald Bridge will remain open during the MacKay closure.

Motorists are being reminded that all vehicles over 3,200 kg, except passenger buses, are prohibited on the Macdonald.

Traffic delays are expected over the weekend, with events like a Halifax Wanderers game and two festivals scheduled.

“It would be good to see some increased coordination across the spectrum on transportation, so when you are losing a bridge maybe we increase the ferry traffic. It would be nice to see the Dartmouth ferry increased to every 15 minutes,” said Tim Rissesco with the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission.

The next closure for the Macdonald Bridge is Aug. 3, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., for the annual bridge walk.

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