Haifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission

[Offshore1]

Originally Posted by terrynorthend

That sounds about right. The immediate drop in demand on the McKay by opening another bridge will also help extend it's life.

BTW I got a kick out of your naming. So that means we'll have an old new bridge, a new old bridge, and a new new bridge

Boy this is sounding like Who's on First or a variation of all the different Margaree's in Cape Breton.

[Keith P.]

I see no other possible outcome given that the locals have used the "old bridge/new bridge" nomenclature for over 50 years. Though I suppose it is possible that some might pivot to something even more bizarre like "the big bridge".

[OldDartmouthMark]

Maybe it will be the Third Bridge, or the Newest Bridge?

I can’t help but think that it will happen differently now, as it’s no longer 1970. There was no (long lasting) bridge before the MacDonald, so it was just “The Bridge”. Then in 1970, a new one came along, so it was obviously “The New Bridge”. But remember this all happened by word of mouth (people actually talked to one another, in person, in 1970!), without the aid of social media, internet “influencers”, etc., so it was casual and simple. Nothing silly would have made the cut back then because that’s not how society in general functioned.

So maybe it will be “Bridgey McBridgeface” or something of equal social significance that’s relevant to the demographic of choice. Maybe each demographic will have their own nickname for it. The possibilities are endless…

[OldDartmouthMark]

Hmmm… acronyms are big now.

TNB? (The newest bridge)

TNNB? (The newest new bridge)

TBNB? (The big new bridge)

??

[Keith P.]

Another study on how to solve this seemingly unsolvable bridge problem!!!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scot...lic-works-construction-traffic-9.7266071

I wonder how many similar reports are languishing in the cabinets at the old HHB HQ.

[ArchAficionado]

They could have the dang thing built by 2028 if they stopped 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 away money on these studies.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Maybe they should do a study over whether we need another study.

[Offshore1]

I hadn't heard of a tunnel possibility before.
"Tilley said refurbishing the existing structure, building a completely new bridge or digging a tunnel under the harbour are options under consideration."

I also don't get why after 50 years they decided to get rid of the tolls. At least the money, if not spent on maintenance, could be put towards whatever replacement is decided on.

[Dartguard]

I think the Provincial Government is going to kick the building of a new Bridge ,Tunnel, hoverboards for all, until the new Central Hospital is substantially complete. My reasoning is because the Halifax area, perception wise in the rest of the Province ,'gets too much". Throw in the P.M. mentioning last week that the Submarine project could deliver 50,000 jobs Nation wide and I would bet the Province is going to sit back and try to Maneuver a new Bridge as a Strategic National Asset and let the Feds pay for most of it. If we go that way then a Tunnel it is for me.

Minister Tilley last week announced the acquisition of Provincially owned and operated Asphalt repair gear in his Cape Breton riding. Believe me when I say the squeaky wheel the minister hears about is pothole repair and not another bridge gift to Halifax. Fillmore should start to sell the Strategic National asset Idea to his former Liberal colleagues.

[terrynorthend]

Originally Posted by Dartguard

I think the Provincial Government is going to kick the building of a new Bridge ,Tunnel, hoverboards for all, until the new Central Hospital is substantially complete. My reasoning is because the Halifax area, perception wise in the rest of the Province ,'gets too much". Throw in the P.M. mentioning last week that the Submarine project could deliver 50,000 jobs Nation wide and I would bet the Province is going to sit back and try to Maneuver a new Bridge as a Strategic National Asset and let the Feds pay for most of it. If we go that way then a Tunnel it is for me.

Minister Tilley last week announced the acquisition of Provincially owned and operated Asphalt repair gear in his Cape Breton riding. Believe me when I say the squeaky wheel the minister hears about is pothole repair and not another bridge gift to Halifax. Fillmore should start to sell the Strategic National asset Idea to his former Liberal colleagues.

I don't disagree. BC just got a promise of $3B federal dollars for Vancouver's George Massey Tunnel replacement as part of their 'pipeline from Alberta' incentive package. Halifax needs some serious and quick infrastructure upgrades to facilitate the defense growth. I'm sure some significant federal money can be freed up as part of the 1.5% of GDP indirect NATO investment. (That is, of the 5%, 3.5 is direct military spending and 1.5 is 'related' spending)

[MonctonRad]

It is not a stretch to consider a replacement MacKay Bridge a "strategic national asset", especially since Halifax is Canada's east coast naval port.

[Dartguard]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

It is not a stretch to consider a replacement MacKay Bridge a "strategic national asset", especially since Halifax is Canada's east coast naval port.

Especially as the old Champlain Bridge in Montreal received that status as a major trade route bottleneck.
Now if I knew how to manipulate Google Earth images I could have a fun with Tunnel routes subpage to this one.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by someone123

It's not very helpful for cutting travel distance though. South St over to the park looks reasonable as long as it's not a wide bridge.

Realistically these areas should also be zoned for at least medium density. A lot of the monster homes basically are medium sized buildings, just organized as a single housing unit instead of 4 or 8.

Yeah the blind acceptance of "ritzy" areas being exempt from distrubance is anachronistic. There isn't a group of city fathers running things anymore or at least shouldn't be. Someone should run on fixing the problem and do it.

[Keith P.]

With the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge between Windsor ON and Detroit, there are a number of videos of it being used that have gotten posted on YT. Here's an example:

https://youtu.be/BhD8nSZalu0?si=RyKNZvvvzpSsk-OU

It's certainly an impressive piece of engineering but a few things that struck me were the long, meandering up/down and curvy approaches, and the relative lack of (or hard to see) pavement markings and signage. The cable-stay design seems to limit views when crossing as well. Maybe you have to experience it in person. Currently the toll is $8.00CAN to cross in either direction. Interesting to consider when thinking about future options for us.

[mleblanc]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

With the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge between Windsor ON and Detroit, there are a number of videos of it being used that have gotten posted on YT. Here's an example:

https://youtu.be/BhD8nSZalu0?si=RyKNZvvvzpSsk-OU

It's certainly an impressive piece of engineering but a few things that struck me were the long, meandering up/down and curvy approaches, and the relative lack of (or hard to see) pavement markings and signage. The cable-stay design seems to limit views when crossing as well. Maybe you have to experience it in person. Currently the toll is $8.00CAN to cross in either direction. Interesting to consider when thinking about future options for us.

It's a beautiful bridge, that's for sure! I've never made the Detroit/Windsor border crossing before so I'm not exactly sure the traffic levels, but wouldn't the bridge be incredibly bottlenecked by both border crossing - why does it need 8 lanes?

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by mleblanc

It's a beautiful bridge, that's for sure! I've never made the Detroit/Windsor border crossing before so I'm not exactly sure the traffic levels, but wouldn't the bridge be incredibly bottlenecked by both border crossing - why does it need 8 lanes?

I’m not sure. Years ago I used both the tunnel under the river (only once because I didn’t like it much) and the Ambassador Bridge a few times and Customs was always a bottleneck so I would expect this to be a similar experience, probably worse now given the tensions at present. I guess the extra lanes just provide more space to wait in line.

[Dmajackson]

Originally Posted by ns_kid

HHB has posted the new configuration for the Macdonald approaches. The plan for the McKay is still to come.


Source: Halifax Harbour Bridges

The quote above is from March 2025 when the toll booth removal was first announced. Note how the bridge approach has three lanes (two general, one transit) to match the number of lanes turning left from Wyse Road. Well shortly after HHB and HRM designed this plan the province stepped in and said "No, we're only going to paint two approach lanes". Because three lanes can't feed into two with a standard stoplight that caused one of our busiest transit priority lanes to be closed for almost a year while a new transit signal was purchased and installed by HRM. A few months ago the new signal was turned on then adjusted so now three buses can turn left in advance of general traffic per signal cycle.

Now the Province has unveiled some quick-fix ideas for traffic improvements and surprise, surprise, the third lane onto the MacDonald Bridge is now planned to be included. If only the toll removal wasn't rushed and the local traffic authorities (HHB, HRM) suggestions ignored by the province for no reason. I wonder how many extra hours of traffic congestion this small fight caused and how much the new signal cost HRM to install for just a few months of use.

That said I am happy to see the Province making some good choices on the list of targeted improvements for this year. The dual left-turn lane from MacDonald onto Wyse will be a big improvement.

Link Nova Scotia - Province Advancing Targeted Transportation Improvements

[terrynorthend]

I'm still a little confused on how the 3rd lane will work here. There's no way the two general traffic turning lanes are going to merge into the one left bridge lane simply because there's a bus diamond. Especially true in 4 months when the new paint is faded into oblivion. IMO, the separate signal for buses is the only thing that makes sense

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

The quote above is from March 2025 when the toll booth removal was first announced. Note how the bridge approach has three lanes (two general, one transit) to match the number of lanes turning left from Wyse Road. Well shortly after HHB and HRM designed this plan the province stepped in and said "No, we're only going to paint two approach lanes". Because three lanes can't feed into two with a standard stoplight that caused one of our busiest transit priority lanes to be closed for almost a year while a new transit signal was purchased and installed by HRM. A few months ago the new signal was turned on then adjusted so now three buses can turn left in advance of general traffic per signal cycle.

Now the Province has unveiled some quick-fix ideas for traffic improvements and surprise, surprise, the third lane onto the MacDonald Bridge is now planned to be included. If only the toll removal wasn't rushed and the local traffic authorities (HHB, HRM) suggestions ignored by the province for no reason. I wonder how many extra hours of traffic congestion this small fight caused and how much the new signal cost HRM to install for just a few months of use.

That said I am happy to see the Province making some good choices on the list of targeted improvements for this year. The dual left-turn lane from MacDonald onto Wyse will be a big improvement.

Link Nova Scotia - Province Advancing Targeted Transportation Improvements

[ngunda]

Merging used to be (surprisingly) reasonably orderly going onto the McDonald Halifax-bound. Since the removal of the tolls, a lot of drivers seem to have lost that skill and at times of day when two lanes go down to one, they come to a stop as soon as they make it through the intersection even if there’s space in front of them, waiting until there’s an opening in the other lane, which limits the number of vehicles who make it through the lights behind them. I wonder how having three lanes at the approach will affect things.