“This is a major milestone for the Big Lift,” said Steve Snider, general manager and CEO for Halifax Harbour Bridges (HHB). “Design and planning has been ongoing since 2009 and we are pleased to enter the next phase for the construction.”
Beginning in mid-2015, the Macdonald Bridge’s road deck, floor beams, stiffening trusses, and suspender ropes will be entirely replaced. This will extend the life of the 60-year-old span and reduce maintenance needs.
American Bridge Canada completed a similar project that took place on the Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver 14 years ago.
HHB invited three companies to bid on the project following a prequalification process. Technical submissions were evaluated first before the cost proposals were opened. As part of the bid process contractors were required to identify benefits to Nova Scotia and Canada. “American Bridge has a strong history of maximising local participation in projects that we undertake,” said American Bridge senior vice president Mike Cegelis. “We engaged the local community extensively over the past several months and are very confident that our local partners will be major participants and invaluable assets in the successful performance of the work.”
For example, Dartmouth-based steel fabricator, Cherubini, will be the main structural steel fabricator for the project. “We did the fabrication work for the Macdonald Bridge third lane project in 1999 and we look forward to being involved in this even larger project as well,” said Cherubini general manager Steve Ross.
The construction of the project is estimated to be in the range of US$140 million and will be paid for exclusively through toll revenue and is being financed through a repayable loan from the province of Nova Scotia.
“Our goals for this project are simple: to be on-time, on budget, have minimal disruption and to have no injuries,” said Snider.
