Gateway to Growth: The economic and social impact of Halifax Harbour's Bridges 

Halifax Harbour’s two bridges are critical parts of the region’s transportation network. Just how critical? A new study carried out by an independent transportation research organization suggests the MacKkay Bridge alone delivers more than $120 million in annual economic benefits to the region.  

The HDR study calculated the iconic spans’ impact by measuring their influence on the flow of goods and people as well as how the bridges facilitate public benefits like shorter commutes, reduced vehicle operating costs and reduced emissions. 

“From an economic impact point of view, the bridges allow people to get to and from work and activities - enabling industries to flourish and drive economic growth,” says HHB CEO Tony Wright. “But they also have a societal impact. By shortening possible commutes, there are savings in fuel costs, travel time, decreasing emissions and avoiding collisions.” 

For commercial traffic, the study found the MacKay Bridges provides a short and efficient way for commercial truckers to get their cargo to its destination. It also helps reduce congestion on other roads and shortens both the travel time, and mileage for operators.  

With the shorter trip afforded by the MacKay, the study authors say the range of destinations and markets that can be reached in a one-day truck trip is widely expanded. Efficient commercial operations with a wider customer pool allow for greater employment and increased economic potential.  

In the same way the MacKay Bridge provides a short and efficient way for commercial traffic to get to its destination, the two bridges present the same benefits for auto and transit traffic. They reduce congestion on other roads and shorten both the commuter’s travel time and mileage expenses.  

Since workers often factor commute time and expenses into their choice of where to work, a longer commute can translate into demands for greater compensation. Forced to pay higher wages, businesses might decrease their labour demand or, if they opted for lower-paid, less suitable employees, may experience a drop in productivity. 

Economic impact snapshot

Macdonald Bridge

The Macdonald Bridge drives more than $86.5 million of economic benefits to the Nova Scotia economy annually, including: 

  • Enabling $53.5 million in employment income 

  • Supporting 816 jobs 

MacKay Bridge

The MacKay Bridge drives more than $120 million of economic benefits to the Nova Scotia economy annually by:

  • Enabling $73 million in employment income 

  • Supporting 1,145 jobs 

Public benefits 

Without fully-operational bridges, the travel time for workers would jump significantly as would the number of kilometres drivers would need to put on their vehicles. More travel time on the road, means less time doing productive work, less time with family and friends, or lost opportunities to engage in other personal pursuits. Excess kilometres of driving also means that they will spend more money on vehicle operations (including fuel) and general vehicle depreciation. In addition, the report indicates an increase in traffic volume in the network will lead to broader social costs such as an increase in vehicle emissions, an increase in number of road accidents, and greater wear and tear of public roads.  

Public Benefits snapshot

The MacKay Bridge drives more than $109 million in societal benefits annually by: 

  • Saving drivers $75.2 million worth of travel time on personal trips 

  • Saving drivers $26.5 million in fuel and out-of-pocket expenses 

  • Preventing $4.5 million in collision costs  

  • With less idling, $2 million is saved in emission costs  

  • Eliminating $900,000 of wear and tear on roadways 

The Macdonald Bridge drives more than $80 million in societal benefits annually, including:

  • Saving drivers $63.4 million worth of travel on personal trips 

  • Saving drivers $13.1 million in fuel and out-of-pocket expenses 

  • Reduction of $2.2 million in collision costs  

  • With less idling, $1 million is saved in emission costs  

  • Eliminating $400,000 of wear and tear on roadways 

Traffic Impact

Not surprisingly, the study examined the bridges’ impact on traffic. It concluded that a fully functioning MacKay Bridge enables motorists a five per cent decrease in travel distance and a 13 per cent reduction in car commute time. In general, it allows drivers to reach destinations seven per cent faster and reduces potential transit times across all routes by 63 per cent. 

 A fully functioning Macdonald Bridge enables a three per cent decrease in travel distance and a 10 per cent reduction in car commute time. It allows drivers to reach their destinations six per cent faster and allows buses to get to their destinations 24 per cent quicker. 

The study concludes that MacKay Bridge and the Macdonald Bridge are not only critical pieces of transportation infrastructure to the Halifax Region and Atlantic Canada, but they play a significant role in facilitating economic activity and improving the quality of life for residents. 

“The bridges serve important functions facilitating economic activity and improving the quality of life of residents in the Halifax Region and beyond, concludes study author Dennis Bruce. “Any sustained operational issue or capacity reduction on the bridges would have significant negative implications for both the economy and residents.“

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