Halifax Harbour Bridges urges cyclists to slow down and use extra caution on Macdonald Bridge bikeway

Halifax Harbour Bridges (HHB) is reminding cyclists and other active transportation users to respect the posted 25 km/h speed limit while crossing the Macdonald Bridge.

“We’ve seen some riders crossing at very high speeds,” said HHB CEO Tony Wright. “The bridge is a shared space, and everyone’s safety depends on users following the rules and remaining aware of their surroundings.”

More than 10,000 cyclists use the Macdonald Bridge bikeway during the summer months. While the vast majority respect the posted speed limit and use the facility safely, HHB has recently observed an increase in incidents and near misses involving excessive speeds.

“With the growing popularity of e-bikes and high-powered scooters, it’s not uncommon to see some riders travelling well above the 25 km/h limit, particularly on the Dartmouth approach,” said Stephen Ashton, Operations Supervisor. “That creates additional safety concerns, especially in and around the construction area.”

As part of the ongoing Halifax tower rehabilitation project, workers have installed an overhead work platform that allows blasting and coating work to proceed without disrupting traffic. While the platform minimizes impacts to bridge operations, it does reduce the available width of both the walkway and bikeway.

“We’ve installed additional signage and mirrors to improve visibility through the area,” said Safety Manager Lori Jardine. “However, riders still need to approach the construction zone with caution and be prepared to slow down when conditions require it.”

HHB is also reviewing additional measures that could improve safety, including enhanced signage, traffic-calming features used successfully on other bridge facilities, and infrastructure improvements that help keep cyclists and pedestrians in their designated lanes.

“Whenever this issue comes up, some people immediately call for enforcement,” said Ashton. “Enforcement has a role to play, but our focus is on prevention and education. This is fundamentally a safety issue, and we’re asking everyone to do their part to keep the crossing safe for all users.”