The Nova Scotia government has issued a request for proposals for a consultant as it figures out next steps for Halifax’s aging A. Murray MacKay Bridge. The province said Friday the consultant will evaluate viable long-term transportation options across the Halifax Harbour. “The MacKay is a critical transportation link for Nova Scotia, handling a significant share of commuter and commercial traffic across the Halifax Harbour,” said Public Works Minister Fred Tilley in a statement. “We have a responsibility to get this right so future generations have a safe, reliable and efficient harbour crossing that supports economic growth, mobility and quality of life throughout our region.” The province is asking for: “Acting now to develop a business case will ensure that we have the insights required to make a decisive, future-oriented choice that advances economic opportunity and improves connectivity for the next generation of Nova Scotia businesses and travellers,” said Halifax Harbour Bridges CEO Tony Wright. The province says a steering committee will oversee the procurement process and business case development. The committee includes staff from Halifax Harbour Bridges, Link Nova Scotia, the Halifax Regional Municipality and the Department of Public Works. MacKay Bridge facts The MacKay Bridge opened 56 years ago, on July 10, 1970. It was the second bridge built over Halifax Harbour, after the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge, which opened on April 2, 1955. Roughly 65,000 vehicles cross the four-lane MacKay Bridge daily. It’s the only bridge that allows commercial traffic. In March 2025, the province removed the tolls on the MacKay and Macdonald bridges. Wright told CTV News Atlantic that move increased maintenance issues on the structures. “On certain components, like the deck itself, we are seeing more wear and tear, it’s true,” Wright said. The Macdonald Bridge already underwent a significant project, dubbed “The Big Lift,“ which saw the entire suspended structure of the bridge replaced over the course of several years. The province says both bridges support more than $120 million in economic activity each year. With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Jonathan MacInnis For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
