Published Mar 29, 2025 • Last updated 4 hours ago • 3 minute readTraffic was backed up on the Macdonald Bridge and at approaches to the bridge Saturday morning. The bridge is one of two connecting Halifax and Dartmouth but the MacKay Bridge was closed for work to demolish and remove the toll plazas. Photo by Francis Campbell /The Chronicle HeraldToll-free travel across Halifax Harbour left drivers frustrated Saturday morning as they tried to make their way across the Macdonald Bridge.“Pity anyone taking the Macdonald Bridge today,” one person posted on social media. “Nantucket backed up to Victoria Road, which is backed up to Woodland. MacKay bridge closed for toll removal. Stupid idea just to buy votes last election.”THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe description of traffic backup on the Dartmouth side was also true of the Halifax side of the bridge, where it took one hour and 40 minutes Saturday morning to drive or sit and wish to be driving from the corner of North and Oxford streets to the Dartmouth side of the Macdonald bridge, a three-kilometre trek.“It’s not slow, it’s at a standstill,” another post read.Of course, the traffic troubles could be attributed to the weekend closure of the MacKay Bridge to facilitate work to remove the toll booth plaza.By noon, the plaza had been demolished and removed but work pursuant to the demolition was to continue throughout the weekend and the MacKay Bridge, closed to traffic from Friday at 7 p.m., was to remain closed until Monday at 5:30 a.m.Premier Tim Houston presented the idea of removing tolls on the two harbour-spanning bridges last fall as an election campaign promise. The elimination of tolls was originally scheduled to take place on April 1 but the Houston government, fresh off a supermajority victory in the fall election, moved the toll-free date up to March 17.Article contentAfter 70 years, Nova Scotians no longer had to pay a bridge toll to cross between Dartmouth and Halifax as of that date.“Paying tolls to use our highways and bridges is now a thing of the past for Nova Scotians,” Public Works ministerial assistant Tim Outhit said to mark the toll removals.“Drivers deserve a commute that costs less and an easier way to get to and from work every day.” The approach to the MacKay Bridge from the Dartmouth side late Saturday morning. The toll plaza that had been located at that site was demolished and hauled away. Photo by Francis Campbell /The Chronicle HeraldOver the weekend leading into the March 17 lifting of tolls, crews removed the toll plaza at the Macdonald Bridge and continued evening work that week and the following weekend to complete the job.“We heard a lot about the tolls should not be removed,” Houston said this week as the spring legislature session wrapped up at Province House.“There was quite a bit written and said about the tolls should stay,” the premier said. “Now that the tolls are gone, I’ve heard a remarkable amount of positive feedback.”Houston said people notice the savings from not having to pay the toll and the free flow of traffic.“The thing that has been really quite remarkable about removing the tolls, various people have said it almost unified the city, that the toll was almost like a psychological barrier that you had to pay to get from one part of the city to the other,” Houston said. Article content“Since we removed that, it’s had a very positive impact on the mental health of people going back and forth. I’m happy the tolls are off.”The mental health benefits may have been less evident Saturday morning. “Ripping and tearing,” on the MacKay Bridge toll plaza began Friday evening, said Kelly Shiers, communications adviser with Halifax Harbour Bridges, the Crown corporation that manages the bridges.Shiers said half a dozen large excavators would be moved in from where they were lined up on Princess Margaret Boulevard for the on-site demolition.The MacKay Bridge demolition is a bigger job than the Macdonald Bridge work, she said.“We were able to do the Macdonald in just two weekends,” Shiers said. “The MacKay will be this weekend and there will be others scheduled later. There are more toll plazas, it’s a much bigger space.”Shiers said a big chunk of the work is expected to be done by the end of this weekend.A large work zone was cordoned off surrounding the MacKay Bridge with concerns about flying concrete and other debris.“It’s a safety precaution, a safety measure that is taken very seriously,” Shiers said.Article content
Weekend gridlock takes toll on Halifax bridge traffic
