Macdonald Bridge to shut down for part of the weekend due to maintenance

By CityNews Halifax Staff

Commuters in the Halifax Regional Municipality are about to undergo 36 hours without use of Halifax’s main cross-harbour span, starting at 7 p.m. on Friday.

The Macdonald Bridge is set to close to vehicle traffic until Sunday at 5:30 a.m.

According to Halifax Harbour Bridges, the clsoure is due to regular maintenace including resurfacing, painting, testing of a new lane reversal system and other work.

“One of the critical parts is (because) we are replacing an electrical system so there will be no power on the bridge,” says HHB spokesperson Steven Proctor. “They can’t do the repairs while there is traffic on the bridge.”

Proctor says the pedestrian walkway and bicycle lane will remain open throughout the weekend.

A closure for further maintenance on the Macdonald Bridge may be required during a weekend in mid-September but details will be announced once they are finalized.

As for the MacKay Bridge, Proctor says he does not anticipate any further weekend closures for the remainder of the summer.