Weekend traffic snarls prompt Bridge Commission mea culpa
Posted Jul 12, 2010 02:01:24 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Halifax Dartmouth Bridge Commission is apologizing today for traffic delays on the bridges on Monday morning and over the weekend.
While the commission is sorry for the tie-ups resulting from the bridge’s closure, it cautions commuters work will be taking place on the span throughout the summer as part of a $7.4 million refit.
The MacKay Bridge was shut down Friday evening for the weekend to allow for ongoing work to replace expansion joints.
It left weekend drivers waiting up to two hours at times to cross the remaining harbour span, the MacDonald Bridge. There were more delays this morning when the bridge didn’t re-open as scheduled at five. Delays pushed the opening back until seven.
The Bridge Commission’s Allison MacDonald says the weather was to blame.
“What happened over the weekend is we got the work done that we needed to get done, but the rain hampered the progress of that work,” she said. “It slowed everything down.”
MacDonald says they’re sorry for the delays.
“I’m sure that there were some frustrated motorists and we apologize for the delay.
There was nothing we could do about that,” she said “I hope everyone understands that this is work that needs to get done and we appreciate the patience.”
She warns work will continue on weekends through the summer with lane closures and at least one more full weekend bridge shutdown.
