MacKay Bridge closed this weekend, Halifax Harbour Bridges covering cost of ferry rides

The MacKay Bridge in Halifax will be closed from Friday to Monday.

The A. Murray MacKay Bridge will be closed this weekend for maintenance work, and Halifax Harbour Bridges (HHB) will be covering the costs of ferry rides for travellers, no tickets required.

HHB says the MacKay Bridge will be closed to all vehicles from Friday at 9 p.m. to Monday at 5:30 a.m. for “crucial maintenance and inspection.”

The work includes the replacement of expansion joint glands and the full road deck removal in the north lane and selected areas of the south lane, according to an HHB news release.

“They’re going to be doing some asphalt work that is important, inspections,” says Steve Proctor, HHB communications manager. “It’s stuff that we can’t do during the week.”

The bridge closure might not be bad news for the business community in Dartmouth.

“When the bridge is closed, it tends to cause people to rethink their weekends,” says Tim Rissesco, CEO of the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission. “Sometimes, it works out well for us because people will spend their time on the Dartmouth side.”

Rissesco gives kudos to the bridge commission for the free ferry service.

“It gives a real other alternative for people, people needing to get across,” he says.

But for truck drivers, the ferries offer little help, and traffic delays are still to be expected.

Veerinder Singh, a straight truck driver, says it’s frustrating.

“Like, it takes time,” he says. “It makes my route longer. Like, it takes only 25 minutes, but I have to go all the way around from the highway. So, it took 50 minutes or 45 minutes.”

The bridge commission acknowledges it’s not ideal for the weekend, especially given a FIFA World Cup watch party at Garrison Grounds and a Halifax Tides game.

“Motorists should expect traffic delays throughout the weekend, particularly on the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge and surrounding roadways. HHB encourages travellers to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, and exercise patience with fellow drivers,” reads the news release.

HHB notes the closure is starting one hour later than usual to accommodate traffic for the FIFA watch party.

“There’s no good time for a full bridge closure. That’s why we actually try and do lane drops and weekends and nights as much as we possibly can,” adds Proctor.

Halifax Tides president Val Malone says they understand the closure will create real challenges for many in the community.

“We want to acknowledge that directly. Crossing the harbour means longer trips and harder choices and we don’t take that lightly,” she writes in a statement to CTV.

She says this weekend is about more than a football match, highlighting the significance of the World Cup and the energy in their stadium.

“Plan ahead, carpool with neighbours, and come early – gates open at 12:30... The bridge may make the journey a little longer this weekend. But what’s waiting on the other side is absolutely worth it,” she says. “We’ll see you there.”

The MacKay is expected to have one more closure before the end of construction season.

With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Callum Smith

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