Bridge Restrictions

Restrictions due to weather:

HHB closely monitors wind speeds and will restrict access to the bridges if necessary:

Wind speeds of 75 – 85km – close the sidewalk and bike lane on the Macdonald Bridge
Wind speeds of 85km – restrict high-sided vehicles on the MacKay Bridge
Wind speeds of 120km – close the bridges to all traffic. Wind speeds can be different at each bridge.

What is considered a high-sided vehicle? At Halifax Harbour Bridges, a high-sided vehicle is defined as any vehicle exceeding 7’2” (2.2 metres) in height, including any fixed or removable racks. As a point of reference, most pick-up trucks, SUVs and vans, including most 15-passenger vans, fall well below this height restriction.

Macdonald

Other than buses, no vehicles weighing over 3200 kg (7055 lb) are permitted on the Macdonald Bridge and must cross the harbour via the MacKay Bridge.

MacKay

There is no bicycle or pedestrian access on the MacKay Bridge.

HHB requires a written letter of permission for all slow moving and oversized vehicles wishing to cross the MacKay Bridge. These vehicles include:

Crane
Backhoe
Wheel Loader
Grader
Asphalt Spreader
Forklift
Tractor
Or any other vehicle which is not a car or a pick-up truck, that HHB believes may impede the normal flow of traffic.

No vehicles in the above listing may cross the A. Murray MacKay Bridge (AMM) during peak period traffic hours.

Depending on the height, width and weight of the vehicle and HHB escort may be required.

If you have any questions, please contact:
Daryl Lowe, Operations Manager at dlowe@hdbc.ns.ca