July sidewalk resurfacing: What you can expect

Halifax Harbour Bridges will spend more than $1.2 million this summer to rehabilitate and resurface the sidewalk on the Macdonald Bridge.

“Anyone who walks across the bridge on a regular basis recognizes that the sidewalk needs some attention,” says HHB Bridge Engineer Daniel Yanez Sanchez. “We have worked hard to get the maximum life out of the existing wear surface since it was installed in the late 1990s. We have done patching, but now the patches are failing. It’s time to rehabilitate the sidewalk before it becomes dangerous.”

Rehabilitating and resurfacing the sidewalk will create some inconvenience for pedestrians — and cyclists — during the first two weeks of July.

From July 4 through July 14

The sidewalk will closed from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. to allow workers to remove the worn material and prepare the surface for a new coating. During those evening hours, pedestrians will be able to use the bikeway. As a safety precaution, cyclists are asked to dismount their bicycles and walk across the bridge. If that isn’t possible, cyclists are urged to use caution and yield to pedestrians.

During the days, the sidewalk will be open, but caution will be required as workers will be scrapping the surface. Appropriate signage will be in place.

July 15, 7 p.m. – July 18, 5:30 a.m.

There will be a full weekend closure of the sidewalk to allow the application and curing of the new surface coating. During the weekend, walkers can use the bikeway. As a safety precaution, cyclists will be required to walk their bikes in the presence of pedestrians.

This project is weather dependent so the schedule is subject to change. Updates will be posted to the HHB website and on social media.