How old is the mackay bridge

Tokens were introduced in and eliminated in , while the electronic tolls — the MacPass — were launched in In , a third lane was added in the middle of the span to be used as a reversing lane.

The pedestrian and bike lanes were also added. The Macdonald Bridge has undergone several changes over the years and there's about to be another dramatic overhaul. The redecking of the bridge — a project dubbed the Big Lift — began in March with preliminary assessments and some reinforcement work. The side lanes will be removed in June and sections of the span will start to be replaced one at a time after Sept. The operation will involve lowering a section to a barge below and lifting a new one into place.

There are no tolls on the Fairview overpass or on Hwy. All these other access points to the peninsula are free to the travelling public but certainly not free to maintain. In fact, all have recently been, or are currently in the planning stages for major construction projects costing several hundreds of millions.

The counterargument would be that the bridges must be much more expensive to maintain than a roundabout or a highway overpass. Why is it that the Department of Transportation spends hundreds of millions every year building and maintaining roads and bridges throughout the province, including the other access points to the peninsula, yet contributes absolutely nothing to the Halifax Harbour Bridges?

Despite this, Halifax Harbour Bridges still manages to run a significant surplus every year. In fact, the current bridge toll not only generates a profit but also subsidizes several million dollars a year in operating and administration costs that could be eliminated if the toll booths were taken down and the organization itself disbanded.

The opening of the MacKay Bridge drew international interest due to its design and the engineering techniques that were applied to its construction for the first time in North America. MacKay was instrumental in the construction of both the Macdonald and MacKay Bridges, as they were both opened during his time as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners. Also, at the time, Mr. It seemed fitting that the bridge be named after this prominent community member. Halifax Harbour Bridges is a self-supporting entity that operates and maintains two toll bridges across the Halifax Harbour, the Angus L.

In the morning there are two lanes to Halifax. At noon it switches and there are two lanes to Dartmouth and one to Halifax. To receive a copy of our New Old Bridge Video , which portrays the original construction of the Macdonald Bridge and the engineering triumphs of the third lane reconstruction, please send your full mailing address to bridges hdbc.

Halifax Harbour Bridges is a self-supporting entity that operates and maintains two toll bridges across the Halifax Harbour, the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge and the A. Murray MacKay Bridge. Angus L.