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I wonder how many people foresaw what the big lift would actually be? Setbacks, delays and general frustration. The first segment was supposed to be dropped the first weekend of September, six weeks later it happens with no insight into when the next drop will happen. Then of course they’re behind schedule but we’re told its a learning curve according to their spokesperson. Isn’t this why we brought in and paid extra for the same company that did this in Vancouver already? Yup, learning curve. Then theres this big bump as they’re calling it now. Did no one check the blueprints and notice this prior to opening the bridge? Hell, did any of the workers or foremen or inspectors notice? Nope. Did this happen in Vancouver? Nope. Then the papers publish a story saying its normal, part of switching out the bridge decks. Well if the big bump is on the first segment on the Dartmouth side how will it be eradicated as they move towards Halifax? And then I think they just left it, left it for a day which delayed traffic for hours before the Bridge Commission and city says something like “well, we’ll get the contractors to see if they can lay down a patch to smooth it out”. Wow! Pure genius, but how the hell didn’t anyone know this big bump was gonna happen and why the fuck did the bridge open with it? Guess its another simple oversight from the experienced crew thats already done this. Two months behind schedule, no credible reasons, but hey thats life I guess. Finally maybe they could waive the bridge fee’s during peak hours, because you know that may make a bit of sense to ease the horrific congestion. Doubtful that’ll ever happen though. I had a feeling Halifax couldn’t undertake a project of this magnitude and then I think oh boy, the Mackay’s gotta be due for the same thing in a decade or so. At the rate their going maybe the MacDonald will actually be finished by then.
—Anita F
This article appears in Oct 22-28, 2015.
If they get this done in less than 2 years, I will be very surprised.
The problems are – as I see it – you are driving a car and you are traveling to/from the other side of H^l^f^x… stop both those things and your troubles end!
It is very frustrating to be stuck in a long line of cars, beside other long lines of cars, waiting to merge into one lane going over the bridge from Dartmouth to Halifax at 6:15 pm on any night this past week. And what do I see while I am waiting? Two lanes of the bridge devoted to traffic coming from Halifax to Dartmouth. And one of these lanes is completely empty. By 6:15 pm, one lane is sufficient to move the Dartmouth bound traffic through. Why must Halifax bound traffic from now until completion pay such a big price? Is there no better way to use that third lane to somehow move some of the Dartmouth backlog through?
Anita F,
Leave ten minutes earlier for work. Problem solved.
Gotta go now because Anita P. Get it?
Anyone with a bit of common sense would know that a project of this size and only the second time it has been done will have snags and that things won’t be perfect and that traffic will be affected.
I don’t think my moped could take that big bump on the Macdonald bridge. Scary as hell going over the new one today. That was one cold ride, brudder.
40,000 cars a day = $40,000/day, x 260 days (conservative estimate of 5 days a week) = $10.4million dollars per year. guessing 20 staff at $55,000/yr = 1.1million.
year after year the maintenance to the bridges has been a thin overlay of asphalt and paint.
I can tell you that if I see a raise in cost to crossing the bridge after this overhaul, I will never take the bridges again. ever.
I know I don’t have all the information to base a full assessment of the balance sheet for the Bridge Commission but the math is extraordinary.
That made me laugh out loud, Taint. I don’t have lady parts. Only the twig and two berries. And, yes, I do have a good sofa cushion superglued to the moped seat. A little bulky but very, very comfy.
RSVP Cumonalready,
The budget for the bridges is made public. They do make a profit so hopefully that will pay for the renovations. See page 26 for the combined budget for the two bridges:
http://www.hdbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/HHB-…
Cheers.
a. you can bet your ass they’ll be raising the bridge toll.
This fuckery is going to cost a fortune.
b. Taint… nice. Gives new meaning to “a strong two-stroke”.
c. (according to idiotic folk-lore) the damn thing hasn’t just fallen down overnight lately.
I’d say it’s due.
d. The whole process has been PLANNED to finish in 2017 and already started an entire month late. They say fall 2017? I say keep fucking dreaming. I’m not saying I could do a better job… but then again, I’m not the one getting fucking paid to. DO YOURS… and do it better, would ya?
Halifax has serious infrastructure problems and this BIG lift/bump is just highlighting them.
The problem is that we have no competent people looking at these issues in the city – and most other cities around the world have such competent people. Just look at the construction scheduling along the main access ways in this city and you’ll learn a lot about our inability to plan and manage as a city.
We are always 25 years behind here. Simple fixes, such as light timing, could eradicate a lot of the issues. Allowing MORE and DENSER development in the city is a must – yet there is red tape at every corner. There is a strong voice in this city that does not want any change. And they know the right people.
We need experienced civil engineers to assess the major infrastructure problems in this city. And then we need city councilors to listen. Neither of these will ever happen.
Imagine all that Convention Center money spent on infrastructure…
What a missed opportunity.