Macdonald bridge deck replacement could be hampered by high winds

Work to replace the deck of the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge could be hampered by high winds, according to Steve Snider, the CEO of Halifax Harbour Bridges.

Snider says wind will only be a problem when the bridge's deck segments are being replaced. That involves lowering an old deck segment to a barge in Halifax harbour and then lifting the new segment into place. 

"The engineers have calculated that any speeds in excess of 15 metres per second, that is sustained winds, would be too much wind. I believe that's somewhat in excess of 50 km/h," Snider told CBC's Information Morning. 

The $150-million Big Lift project will see all of the bridge's 46 deck segments replaced, extending the life of the Macdonald bridge by about 70 years.  

Three out of the 46 deck segments have been replaced so far. Workers are currently checking the bridge's bolts and cables before they move the gantry. The gantry is used lower old deck segments and hoist new ones into place. 

Once all the checks are done, workers will start replacing the fourth section of the bridge. 

"Depending on how mother nature cooperates and the amount of work they can get done overnight I would expect over the next couple of weekends we could have see segment D-4 being replaced," says Snider. 

Snider said he believes all three lanes of the bridge will remain open while work on the bridge continues. 

"The contractor has advised us that they on a go forward basis they don't intend to close a single lane on the bridge during the weekdays unless absolutely necessary. So we're hopeful that the public will have use of all three lanes for most of the foreseeable future."
  
The Macdonald bridge has been closed weeknights from 7 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. and shut down completely on some weekends to accommodate construction. 

Replacement of the deck segments is expected to continue until the fall of 2016. All the work on the bridge should be completed by the fall of 2017.