Traffic delays expected as MacKay Bridge closes for July 19-22 weekend

July 17, 2024

Halifax Harbour Bridges will close the A. Murray MacKay Bridge this weekend.

It is the fourth time this critical cross-harbour link has closed this summer for maintenance.

“The essential work includes concrete drilling, steel repairs and inspections on the approaches and significant resurfacing along the main bridge section, neither of which can be done while there is traffic on the bridge,” says HHB CEO Tony Wright.

Much of the work carried out during the first three closures is evident to regular commuters through a smoother ride, but these multiple projects are about much more than resurfacing, said Wright.

“The maintenance we are doing above and below the deck – and on the approaches – is about safety and about extending the life of the bridge,” he said. “This is work that is planned months in advance and involves skilled workers from outside the region.”

While many projects are completed with nighttime closures or single-lane closures to minimize the impact on traffic, larger projects like those scheduled for this weekend require continuous around-the-clock efforts to complete.

The MacKay will close at 7 pm on Friday July 19 and reopen on July 22 at 5:30 am

The closure coincides with Halifax Pride events. HHB has spoken with Halifax Pride organizers and acknowledges the inconvenience the closure will cause. Halifax Harbour Bridges urges drivers to plan their travel in advance or take transit when possible.

HHB tries to avoid major events when scheduling closures. But given Nova Scotia’s short construction season, the string of rainy weekends so far this year, and the need to avoid scheduling a MacKay closure at the same time as the upcoming Macdonald Bridge closures, must get the work done when the weather allows, Wright said.