Significant changes on the horizon

Letter from the Chair

Vicki Harnish

As Chairperson of Halifax Harbour Bridges, I am delighted to report on the progress we have made in the past year. It has been a year of preparation, with a lot of work happening behind the scenes .

Maintaining bridges is a complex and expensive undertaking, but it is a responsibility we take seriously. In the past year, we have initiated a variety of engineering and construction projects to advance our 10-year capital plan, adopting global best practices to ensure we take good care of and maximize the value of all our assets. This investment in our infrastructure will ensure that our bridges continue to be safe, reliable, and efficient for many years to come. 

But maintaining our infrastructure is not just about steel, paint and asphalt. We have also prepared for the future, allowing us to take on new challenges.

 In my role, I feel privileged to “get a look behind the curtain” and see the hard work that has taken place as staff prepare for fundamental changes that will reshape the organization for the benefit of our community. We have been publicly discussing the safety and environmental benefits  of e-Tolling for eight years. Soon the results of those conversations and the considerable planning that has taken place, will bear fruit. As well, the Board and staff have been reviewing options for a new or rehabilitated MacKay Bridge, which we know from extensive evaluation will be required. Further studies to help inform our decision making between the options will be in the field later this year.

 Two years ago, we went to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB) and were granted the first toll increase in a decade to support a $285 million 10-year capital and maintenance program. With inflation, supply chain issues, the rise in labour costs, it’s clear we won’t be able to complete all the required work within the existing budget.  We reflected in our last application to the NSUARB that we expect  to be going back to them within the next year or so with an updated capital plan and new rate categories to reflect e-tolling.  Simply put, we need to continue to invest in the critical work needed to keep the bridges safe.

 I was walking the Macdonald Bridge recently as part of HHB’s annual Bridgewalk and was struck by the number of people crowding around our ASK AN ENGINEER table. They were asking our student engineers great questions about the strength of the deck, the number of bolts used in construction and yes, why the bridge was closed so often for repairs. It wasn’t so much the questions they asked that surprised and impressed me, but the enthusiasm with which they were posed. For many people, the bridges are simply a conduit to get from one side of the harbour to the other. But there are people in the community who, like our staff and our Board, truly embrace the bridges as part of their life. 

Vicki Harnish - Chairperson