Tender for MacKay Bridge rehab study sparks concerns over replacement timeline - BERITAJA

The early of the MacKay Bridge, which links Halifax to Dartmouth, remains up successful the aerial arsenic it nears the extremity of its lifespan.

A tender has been issued to look astatine ways to sphere it, but Nova Scotia’s guidance parties are concerned the state is skirting the span replacement.

“There’s a measurement that you could proceed to move and do the impermanent things you request to stabilize the bridge, but we request an reply connected what is going to hap pinch the span replacement,” said Nova Scotia’s interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin.

The A. Murray MacKay Bridge opened successful July 1970 and is expected to deed the extremity of its life about 2040. Its replacement has been estimated to costs much than $1 billion.

Halifax Harbour Bridges (HHB) issued a tender past week for an engineering study to beryllium done for the bridge’s deck. The activity includes a information appraisal for the adjacent 20 years, arsenic good arsenic preservation and rehabilitation options for the adjacent 75 years.

A spokesperson pinch HHB says the activity is portion of a multi-year process pinch the province’s location proscription plan.

“This tender is portion of our wide attraction scheme for the MacKay bridge. This study will look astatine the attack spans, alternatively than the span itself,” said Steven Proctor.

“It is modular engineering believe to do this benignant of information for the mean and long-term.”

But Rankin has concerns about really the state plans to get this activity disconnected the ground, especially considering tolls were removed past twelvemonth for the MacKay and Angus L. Macdonald bridges, which trim much than $30 cardinal successful revenue.

As well, the state is moving a shortage successful the latest budget.

“That’s why we talk truthful overmuch about the overspending because we’re worried about our early needs,” said Rankin.

“(Those needs include) bridges, roads, health-care infrastructure, schools, each these things. Our state is now successful a overmuch poorer position.”

NDP Leader Claudia Chender echoes that concern.

“The decisions we make about the MacKay span coming will style really group move about our metropolis for generations,” she said successful a statement.

“At a clip erstwhile Nova Scotians are asking for a clear plan, this tender raises large questions about whether the Houston authorities is delaying their determination connected replacing the bridge.”

The tender exertion is group to adjacent connected July 23.