Overnight closures on Macdonald Bridge coming to an end
Posted Dec 19, 2017 07:50:01 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Good news for late night and early morning commuters who have to head across the harbour.
Halifax Harbour Bridges said, as of 5:30 a.m. Friday, there will be no more continuous overnight closures on the Macdonald Bridge.
Spokesperson Alison MacDonald said they aren't quite finished the Big Lift redecking project, but crews have crossed a lot off their to-do list.
“Over the last couple years, we've replaced basically all of infrastructure on the suspended portion of the Macdonald Bridge except for the two towers and the main cable.”
She said in the spring, they will need to close the bridge periodically overnight to finish up their work and there will also be the occasional single lane closure.
This type of project has only been done once before, about a decade ago on Vancouver's Lions Gate Bridge.
“This is only the second time in the world that a suspension bridge has had its suspended spans replaced while keeping the bridge open,” she explained. “It was important for us to do it that way, respecting the significance of the Macdonald Bridge on our transportation network.”
MacDonald said they realize the Big Lift has been a disruption for those who regularly cross the bridge but added this is a “once in a lifetime project.” It won't need to be done again for at least another 75 years.
