Tender for MacKay Bridge rehab study sparks concerns over replacement timeline

The future of the A. Murray MacKay Bridge, a vital link between Halifax and Dartmouth, is under scrutiny as a tender is issued for an engineering study on its deck. The study will assess the bridge's condition for the next 20 years and explore preservation and rehabilitation options for the subsequent 75 years. Opened in July 1970, the bridge is projected to reach the end of its operational life around 2040, with replacement costs estimated at over $1 billion.

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There’s a way that you can continue to move and do the temporary things you need to stabilize the bridge, but we need an answer on what is going to happen with the bridge replacement.

However, Nova Scotia's interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin has expressed concern that the province might be delaying a decision on replacing the bridge. He emphasized the need for a clear answer on the replacement timeline, stating, "There’s a way that you can continue to move and do the temporary things you need to stabilize the bridge, but we need an answer on what is going to happen with the bridge replacement."

These concerns are amplified by the recent removal of tolls for both the MacKay and Angus L. Macdonald bridges, which resulted in a loss of over $30 million in annual revenue. Coupled with the province's current budget deficit, opposition leaders worry about the ability to fund essential future infrastructure projects, including bridges, roads, healthcare, and schools.

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The decisions we make about the MacKay bridge today will shape how people move around our city for generations.

NDP Leader Claudia Chender echoed these sentiments, highlighting the long-term impact of current decisions. "The decisions we make about the MacKay bridge today will shape how people move around our city for generations," she stated. "At a time when Nova Scotians are asking for a clear plan, this tender raises big questions about whether the Houston government is delaying their decision on replacing the bridge."

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At a time when Nova Scotians are asking for a clear plan, this tender raises big questions about whether the Houston government is delaying their decision on replacing the bridge.

The tender application is scheduled to close on July 23. Halifax Harbour Bridges (HHB) maintains that the work is a standard part of their overall maintenance plan and a multi-year process aligned with the province's regional transportation plan.

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This tender is part of our overall maintenance plan for the MacKay bridge. This study will look at the approach spans, rather than the bridge itself.