More construction delays ahead for weekend drivers
Posted Jun 25, 2010 05:38:57 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The summer construction season is in full swing and this weekend comes with the promise of more headaches.
There are several projects currently underway around HRM and this weekend will bring lane closures on the MacKay bridge, as well as more work on the 102 near the airport.
Travellors to Halifax Stanfield International missed flights last weekend because of traffic delays due to construction on the 102. also this week, commuters complained about waits of up to an hour because of construction on the 103.
Although construction delays are part of the summer landscape, one resident wrote the Herald this week pointing out that major road work in Calgary is done at night, completed quickly and with minimal disruptions to motorists.
But Transportation Minister Bill Estabrooks shrugged off the suggestion.
“It’s one of those situations where, as the minister of transportation, people are always asking for roadwork and then you do the roadwork and they complain about the fact of the traffic,” he said.
Estabrooks apologized for last weekend’s delays on the 102 and said he’s asked for some changes to the way the work is carried out over the next few days.
“There’s been a couple of changes suggested…particularly not having just one lane open in the mornings or afternoons, making sure there are two lanes open,” he said. “I guess the best piece of advice I’ve heard thus far is directly from airport officials who said if you have a flight, make it extra early that you get there because there could be a tie-up.”
The northbound lanes of the 102 are being repaved, with work extending from south of exit 5A (Aerotech Park) to exit 6 (airport.)
For today, June 25, both lanes will be open except between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when one may be closed.
On Saturday, June 26, one lane will be open from sunrise until noon and both lanes will be open after noon.
On Sunday, June 27, both lanes will be open all day.
On Monday, June 28 – one lane open from sunrise until noon and both lanes will be open after noon.
The contractor will post message signs before the construction zone advising northbound motorists that they can reach the airport by exiting Highway 102 at Exit 5A and following the signs. Access to the airport via Bell Boulevard will also be maintained at all times.
Also this weekend, the Mackay Bridge will be down to one lane in each direction starting at 7 p.m. tonight until Monday morning.
Other construction sites to be aware of include:
– St. Margaret’s Bay Road from Douglas to Quarry, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Expect delays due to lane reductions.
– Outbound lanes of Dunbrack near Langbrae, lane reduction required. Work expected to take about 4 days, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
– Outbound lanes of Dunbrack near Lacewood, lane reduction required. Work expected to take about 5 days, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
