Macdonald Bridge closed this weekend as the Big Lift begins
Deck replacement project is set to start tonight, if weather cooperates
Deck replacement on the the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge is scheduled to start this weekend as the Big Lift finally gets underway.
The bridge will close at 7:00 p.m. today and remain closed all weekend. It is scheduled to re-open Monday at 5:30 a.m.
The plan is to lift a 130-tonne, 19-metre deck segment into place. Bridge officials say weather will be a factor in completing the planned work. The project will extend the life of the bridge by 70 years or more.
"We know we're ready. It's just a matter of the weather cooperating and getting that barge from where it is right now seven kilometres from the bridge, down to the bridge this afternoon and being in a position to actually do that lift," said John Eppell, chief engineer with Halifax Harbour Bridges.
There's a weather station set up on the bridge to monitor conditions live and Eppell says the contractor reviews detailed forecasts for the area directly around the span.
Forecast looks good
He doesn't anticipate showers will affect the planned work, but heavy rain and high winds could. Winds exceeding 36 km/h or 54 km/h gusts could cause delays.
"We should be a go for this weekend, it just might be a matter we don't get a start this evening and may have to delay until tomorrow morning in terms of actually doing the lift," he told Information Morning.
Officials have a 30-hour schedule to get the work done, but Eppell says this is the first lift could take a little longer to deal with any unexpected complications.
In all, 46 segments of the bridge span will be removed and replaced. Cherubini Metal Works Ltd., a Dartmouth company, is building the new deck sections.
The first four panels will be replaced over future weekends.
After that, workers hope to complete the process overnight, moving to a 10.5 hour schedule.
What happens to the old decking?
The plan is to recycle parts of the old roadway — the concrete will be crushed to use as clean fill and the steel will be melted down.
Bridge officials are giving the old sidewalks and bike lanes to city and trails groups to be repurposed as bridges and ATV or snowmobile crossings.
One is already in place as a trail crossing in Debert, N.S., says Eppell. He says another is ready to be put into the Chain Lake trails near the Northwest Arm Drive.
Removing and lowering an old section of the bridge and replacing it with the new section has only been done once before, on the Lion's Gate Bridge in Vancouver.
Eppell says the same engineers and contractor that worked on that project have planned the Big Lift.
"We've got an experienced team here that know what they're talking about," he said.
"This has been six years in the making to get us to this point so we're really keen to see this be a success and have this be a legacy for this bridge where we've extended the life by 70 plus years."