Strong gusts and rain cause ferry disruptions, bridge closures

CITYnews halifax / By Steve Gow

Northumberland Ferries says service between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia may be disrupted this morning.

High winds and heavy rain lashed both provinces Sunday into early Monday.

The company said wind conditions could cancel the 7 a.m. departure of the ferry from Wood Islands on Prince Edward Island.

The 8:30 a.m. sailing from Caribou, Nova Scotia may also be cancelled.

High winds also impacted travel in the Halifax region, where the Macdonald Bridge was closed down to traffic temporarily.

According to Halifax Harbour Bridges, the cross harbour span was shut down during Sunday afternoon a “precautionary basis after unassembled scaffolding slated for use on Project LifeSpan blew from the raised platform onto the roadway below.”

In a post on social media, HHB says the bridge reopened a couple hours later once the scaffolding had been secured and a full safety inspection was completed.

A special weather statement ended early Monday in the Halifax area but Environment Canada said potential winds of between 60 to 80 km/hr could gust as the morning continued.

With files from the Canadian Press