Tolls lifted on Halifax Harbour bridges as of today

CITYnews halifax / By Mark Hodgins

Today’s the day — after years of tolls, people will no longer have to flash a MacPass or throw some change into a basket when crossing the harbour bridges.

For 70 years, drivers have paid a toll crossing the Halifax Harbour bridges, but that is over as of this morning.

Related:

• MacPass Plus no longer accepted for parking at Halifax Airport
• Bridge closures to become more frequent as spans age, says HHB
• Halifax Harbour Bridges getting ready to remove tolls

The work started to remove the toll plazas on the bridges. The Macdonald was closed over the weekend and is scheduled to close again this coming weekend so that work to continue.

The bridge commission says there will be three weekend closures on the MacKay Bridge to facilitate that same toll plaza removal work.

As well, the Princess Margaret Boulevard on-ramp will close for six weeks beginning this morning. HHB says drivers will still be able to use the exit from Highway 111.

As for what the changes will mean for traffic flows, it’s not yet clear. Steven Proctor with Halifax Harbour Bridges says they’ll be watching closely and also asks people to be extra attentive as the change comes into effect.