The Macdonald Bridge might not be open for morning rush hour on Friday in what will likely be a traffic nightmare for thousands trying to get to work, school or a medical appointment.
The bridge has been closed since Thursday afternoon due to an unstable construction crane on the Dartmouth side.
“The Macdonald Bridge will remain closed to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, as a result of the unstable crane at a nearby construction site,” stated Halifax Harbour Bridges in an update on Thursday night. “We do not know if the bridge will re-open for Friday morning rush hour. We will provide updates. We ask motorists to plan ahead and exercise patience, as this situation unfolds.”
Police in Halifax, fire crews and Department of Labour officials got the call about the crane around 3 p.m. and rushed to an area of Faulkner Street.
Reports indicate some nearby buildings have been evacuated.
The area around Faulkner, Lyle, Windmill Road and Wyse Road is closed until further notice.
It has caused traffic chaos in Halifax as people tried to get home from work and had to head for the MacKay Bridge or Magazine Hill.
Severe delays are expected to continue for Halifax Transit buses and the morning commute will be a real challenge.
The crane was part of equipment working on an apartment building near the tolls on the Dartmouth side.
Planning work is underway to look at dismantling the crane safely.
Halifax has had its share of scary stories related to construction cranes.
A 75-ton crane on South Park Street toppled onto a building under construction in a storm in 2019.
It took months to fully clean it up.
No one was injured in that incident but it resulted in several residences and businesses being evacuated.
