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43-571: The bridge is one of two suspension bridges linking the Halifax Peninsula to Dartmouth in the Halifax Regional Municipality . It is named after the former premier of Nova Scotia , Angus L. Macdonald , who had died in 1954 and had been instrumental in having the bridge built. The bridge was designed by Philip Louis Pratley , one of Canada's foremost long-span bridge designers who had also been responsible for

86-572: A 30-minute schedule at all other times of the day and overnight. Halifax Peninsula The Halifax Peninsula is a peninsula within the urban area of the Municipality of Halifax , Nova Scotia . The town of Halifax was founded by the British government under the direction of the Board of Trade and Plantations under the command of Governor Edward Cornwallis in 1749. The founding of

129-431: A 4 km (2.5 mi) long rock cut blasted up to 30 m (98 ft) deep for a railway line running from Fairview Cove to serve the new Halifax Ocean Terminals which were built at the southeastern end; the rock from blasting work in the cut being used as infill for a portion of The Narrows. Rudyard Kipling paid homage to Halifax in his poem The Song of Cities : Into the mist my guardian prows put forth, Behind

172-552: A good high south end to the bridge, but the low flat delta land to the north required construction of the extensive North Viaduct. The bridge has three lanes, with the middle being a reversible lane indicated by signals . The centre lane changes direction to accommodate for traffic patterns. The traffic volume on the bridge is 60,000–70,000 vehicles per day. Trucks exceeding 13 tonnes (12.8 long tons; 14.3 short tons) are prohibited, as are vehicles using studded tires . The bridge forms part of Highways 99 and 1A . On March 24, 2005,

215-409: A half years and a cost of CA$ 5,873,837 , the bridge opened to traffic on November 14, 1938. On May 29, 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth presided over the official opening during a royal visit to Canada. A toll of 25 cents was charged for each car or horse and carriage; five cents was charged for pedestrians or bicycles. The bridge was built with two lanes, but a third reversible lane

258-423: A new counterflow system was introduced to the bridge to reduce congestion. From September 2000 to September 2001, the replacement of the entire suspended structure of the original suspension bridge was undertaken without interruption of peak-hour traffic – the first time an entire suspended structure of a major suspension bridge was replaced while in daily use. As with the 1975 replacement work, this

301-550: A parallel span, which was estimated to cost $ 17 million in 1954, but these were shelved in favour of moving forward with the construction of the Second Narrows Bridge farther east up the Burrard Inlet and improving the existing Lions Gate Bridge. A partial cloverleaf interchange was built in 1956 at Marine Way, located at the end of the bridge's north approach, and was followed by a new bridge over

344-837: A provision mandating that "no Asiatic person shall be employed in or upon any part of the undertaking or other works". The bridge was designed by the Montreal firm Monsarrat and Pratley, which was later responsible for the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge in Halifax , Nova Scotia , using a similar design. Other companies involved in the construction of the bridge included Swan Wooster Engineering, Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas , Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin Inc., Canron Western Constructors, Dominion Bridge Company , American Bridge Company . Construction began on March 31, 1937. After one and

387-671: A single-tier municipality named Halifax Regional Municipality . Subsequently, the Halifax Peninsula was included in the new community of Halifax, within the new Municipality of Halifax . Today, the Peninsula is the bustling region of the community of Halifax . The bedrock of this peninsula is Precambrian slate . Glaciers during the Pleistocene era converted the rock surface to an olive-colored loamy till . Glaciation also removed reddish till from sedimentary rock to

430-498: A syndicate called British Pacific Properties Ltd . On December 13, 1933, a second plebiscite was held, passing with 70 percent in favour. After considerable further negotiations with the federal government, approval was finally granted, with the requirement that Vancouver materials and workmen be used as much as possible to provide employment during the Great Depression . The 1933 bylaw authorizing construction included

473-480: A very populated area, the peninsula hosts many businesses, government services, hospitals, post-secondary institutions, and more. The Halifax Station is operated by Via Rail , and is the easternmost station for the Ocean . The Ocean travels from Halifax to Montreal once per week. There are many kilometres of avenues, lanes, roads, and streets that criss-cross throughout the Peninsula. The main thoroughfare

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516-849: Is Robie Street. Robie Street runs approximately 4 km (2.5 mi), then continues on as Massachusetts Avenue . Source: Halifax Transit provides many transit routes that traverse the peninsula. There are two terminals located within the area; the Scotia Square Terminal in the South End ; and the Mumford Terminal in the West End . [REDACTED] Wheelchair – Uses Accessible Low Floor (ALF) buses only. [REDACTED] Rush Hour Service Only [REDACTED] Designated Bike Route [REDACTED] MetroLink Service [REDACTED] MetroX Service There

559-850: Is a ferry service that runs from Downtown Halifax . It is located at the Halifax Ferry Terminal in Downtown . It connects to either the Alderney Terminal in Downtown Dartmouth , or the Woodside Terminal in Woodside . There are many colleges, private-and-public schools, and universities on the peninsula. Colleges Inclusive Education The Halifax School for the Blind is administered by

602-478: Is located at Citadel Hill and immediately offshore to the east at Georges Island . Arenas Art Galleries Community Centres Libraries Museums Parks Pools Trails The Peninsula's population grew to a high of 92,511 in 1961--and decreased thereafter. However, in recent years, the population has increased. In 2016 , the population was 63,210 people. By 2021 , the population increased to 72,169 people--an increase of 14.1% from 2016. Being

645-621: The Capilano River to address congestion issues. The toll instituted by the Guinness family remained on the Lions Gate Bridge until April 1, 1963, as part of the provincial government's toll removal scheme for several bridges. The toll plaza at the north end of the bridge was later demolished. In 1965, the centre lane controls were replaced with traffic signals. In 1975, the deteriorating original concrete deck of

688-587: The Lion's Gate Bridge , this was only the second time that a suspension bridge had its suspended spans completely replaced while continuing to allow regular traffic flow during the daytime. Principal engineering work for the project was done by the same firm that managed the work on the Lion's Gate Bridge. During the Big Lift project Halifax Transit continued to run its regularly scheduled conventional bus service across

731-539: The Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver. The bridges have a similar design, which is most notable in the towers. The contractor was Dominion Bridge Company Ltd . The bridge regularly experiences traffic congestion during rush hours as a result of the structure's proximity to the downtown cores of Halifax and Dartmouth, as well as its narrow width. Large commercial vehicles are not permitted to cross and must use

774-690: The Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority (APSEA). Private Schools Public Schools All public schools on the peninsula are administered by the Halifax Regional Centre for Education . Universities Lion%27s Gate Bridge The Lions Gate Bridge , opened in 1938 and officially known as the First Narrows Bridge , is a suspension bridge that crosses the first narrows of Burrard Inlet and connects

817-693: The City of Vancouver , British Columbia, to the North Shore municipalities of the District of North Vancouver , the City of North Vancouver , and West Vancouver . The term "Lions Gate" refers to the Lions , a pair of mountain peaks north of Vancouver. Northbound traffic on the bridge heads in their general direction. A pair of cast concrete lions, designed by sculptor Charles Marega , were placed on either side of

860-403: The Lions Gate Bridge was designated a National Historic Site of Canada . In 1890, land speculator George Grant Mackay wrote in the local paper that he foresaw a bridge over the first narrows . The First Narrows ferry operated between Ambleside and Gastown from 1909 to 1947. The decision on whether to build the bridge was put to the electorate of Vancouver in 1927, but the first plebiscite

903-536: The Macdonald bridge, except during times when the bridge was closed. During scheduled closures, Halifax Transit operated a shuttle service using the MacKay Bridge . Halifax Harbour Bridges also operated a free, 24-hour-a-day shuttle service during construction to accommodate the bridge's pedestrian and bicycle users. It operated on a load-and-go basis during the weekday morning and afternoon rush hours, and on

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946-617: The North Viaduct was replaced with a lighter, wider, and stronger steel orthotropic deck with wider lanes. This was carried out in sections using a series of short closures of the bridge; each time, one old section was lowered from the bridge and its replacement was put into place. In 1986, the Guinness family, as a gift to Vancouver, purchased decorative lights that make it a distinctive nighttime landmark. The 170 lights were designed and installed by British engineer Ian Hayward and first lit up on February 19 of that year. In 1994,

989-475: The bridge would be issued in June 2009. By March 2010, the remaining sections of the safety barrier had been installed. The bridge now has safety barriers installed along 100% of its pedestrian walkways. Beginning in 2015 another major renovation of the bridge started which saw the temporary removal of the pedway and bike lanes. At a cost of $ 150 million, every piece of steel that makes up the suspended spans, except

1032-599: The mist my virgin ramparts lie, The Warden of the Honour of the North, Sleepless and veiled am I! In 1969, adjacent rural areas within the former County of Halifax (that at this time were beginning to urbanize) west of the isthmus were annexed into the city. The city annexed Armdale , Clayton Park , Fairview , Rockingham and Spryfield . On 1 April 1996, Halifax County was dissolved and all of its places (cities, suburbs, towns, and villages) were turned into communities of

1075-693: The much larger Chebucto Peninsula by an isthmus measuring 2.6 km (1.6 mi), defined by Fairview Cove and the Bedford Basin to the north and the Northwest Arm to the southwest. Down the length of this isthmus is Joseph Howe Drive, generally considered to be the boundary between mainland Halifax and peninsular Halifax. The Halifax Peninsula creates The Narrows , a constriction of Halifax Harbour to its east. The peninsula measures approximately 3.3 km (2.1 mi) at its widest and approximately 7.5 km (4.7 mi) at its longest,

1118-460: The north and redeposited it as a drumlin to form Citadel Hill. The stony loam to sandy loam soils are mapped as Bridgewater series on olive till and Wolfville series on the Citadel Hill drumlin. According to the 2021 Census , the Halifax Peninsula covers approximately 1,894.9 hectares (18.949 km ). Peninsular Halifax extends from the western shore of Halifax Harbour , and is connected to

1161-441: The old one. New pedestrian and bicycle lanes were attached to the outside of the structure to replace the original sidewalks. External aesthetic lights were added during the modernisation project which saw the bridge's towers lit for the first time on a continuous basis every evening from sunset until midnight. Critics derided the effort as a waste of electricity, given Halifax Harbour's frequent foggy weather conditions. The lighting

1204-577: The peninsula's geography. From 1749 until 1841, Halifax was a town . After a protracted struggle between residents and the Executive Council, the town was incorporated into a city in 1841. From 1841 until 1969, the entire Peninsula was home to the former City of Halifax . In 1789, the University of King's College was founded. Roughly thirteen years later, Saint Mary's University was founded in 1802. Subsequently, Dalhousie University

1247-489: The peninsula's topography is relatively flat near the isthmus where Chebucto Field, an aerodrome that preceded Halifax Stanfield International Airport was located. The northern part of the peninsula rises to approximately 60 m (200 ft) above sea level as a glacial drumlin at Fort Needham, with the central area of the peninsula being a plateau roughly 40–50 m (130–160 ft). in elevation. Another drumlin approximately 60 m (200 ft) above sea level

1290-526: The south approach to the bridge in January 1939. The total length of the bridge including the north viaduct is 1,823 metres (5,981 ft). The length including approach spans is 1,517.3 metres (4,978 ft), the main span alone is 473 metres (1,552 ft), the tower height is 111 metres (364 ft), and it has a ship's clearance of 61 metres (200 ft). Prospect Point in Stanley Park offered

1333-426: The three road lanes widened from 3 to 3.6 metres (10 to 12 ft) each. As a result of the 2001 replacement, the 63-year-old suspension bridge, which was described as "not designed for durability", had its lifespan extended. In July 2009, the bridge's lighting system was updated with new LED lights to replace its system of 100-watt mercury vapour bulbs. The switch to LEDs was expected to reduce power consumption on

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1376-483: The towers and two main cables, were replaced; the non-suspended approach spans remained. New vertical cables were required due to the relocation of the stiffening trusses from above deck level to below deck level. Construction mostly occurred overnight with the bridge open to traffic during the day, but many full-weekend closures were necessary. The replacement portion of the project was completed in February 2017. After

1419-437: The town sparked Father Le Loutre's War . The original settlement was clustered in the southeastern part of the peninsula along The Narrows, between a series of forts (Fort Needham to the north, Fort George (Citadel Hill) in the middle, and Fort Massey to the south) and the harbour. With time, the settlement expanded beyond its walls and gradually encroached over the entire peninsula, creating residential neighbourhoods defined by

1462-471: The wider MacKay Bridge to the northwest. Public transit buses are allowed to cross and the bridge links several Halifax Transit routes. In 2014/15 the average number of vehicle crossings per month was 1,183,095. As of January 3, 2022 the toll charge to cross for regular passenger vehicles is $ 1.25 cash or $ 1.00 with the MACPASS electronic toll system. The original toll, when the Macdonald opened in 1955,

1505-399: Was 40 cents plus 5 cents per passenger. There was also a separate toll for trucks, cyclists, pedestrians, motorcycles and horses/rider. Construction of the bridge took place between 1952 and 1955. Caissons were used for underwater work. Five workers died falling from catwalks during construction. The bridge opened on April 2, 1955, and originally cost $ 11.5 million. A modernization project

1548-426: Was added on May 19, 1952, to add capacity during peak periods in the peak direction. The system cost $ 18,000 and was controlled with signs to indicate when the reversible centre lane was opened to traffic. On January 20, 1955, the Guinness family sold the bridge to the province of British Columbia for $ 5,873,837 – the cost of the original construction. The government also considered plans to build

1591-509: Was concerned that the structure was not capable of handling the additional weight of installing safety barriers along the entire span of the bridge. Subsequent computer modeling eliminated the previous concerns, and on May 13, 2009 the general manager and CEO of the Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission, Steve Snider, announced that a tender for the long-called for extension of the barriers along the full length of

1634-565: Was defeated and the idea was put to rest for the time being. Alfred James Towle Taylor, an engineer with a land interest in the construction of the bridge, worked to overcome local opposition to its construction. Taylor was able to convince Walter Guinness of the Guinness family (of the Irish stout fame) to invest in the land on the north shore of Burrard Inlet. They purchased 1,902 hectares (4,700 acres) of West Vancouver mountainside through

1677-695: Was estimated by the bridge authority to cost in excess of $ 50,000 a year in 1999. The Angus L. Macdonald Bridge has attracted media attention as the spot where well known environmental activist Tooker Gomberg is believed to have committed suicide on March 3, 2004. In June 2004 the Department of National Defence filed a lawsuit against the Bridge Commission alleging that snow, ice, bottles and other debris rained down on HMC Dockyard below, endangering staff. The DND first sought $ 527,000 in damages for its efforts to protect employees, an amount that

1720-414: Was facilitated by a series of separate nighttime and weekend closures to replace one section at a time. The old suspended section was lowered to a barge, and the new lighter and wider orthotropic deck section raised into place and connected. A total of 47 sections were used before being paved. The new deck was designed with the two pedestrian walkways cantilevered to the outside of the suspension cables and

1763-502: Was founded 1818. NSCAD University was founded in 1867. In 1867, the Halifax Public Gardens and Victoria Park, Halifax were created, with many Victorian Era monuments. Builders such as George Lang created many landmark buildings. During 1916–1919 a mega construction project was undertaken by Canadian Government Railways (later Canadian National Railway ) along the peninsula's Northwest Arm shoreline which saw

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1806-435: Was later increased to $ 1.04 million. The lawsuit claimed that the issue had been exacerbated when chain link fencing on the bridge had been removed during the 1999 modernization. In July 2007, as part of the settlement, barriers were installed along 22% of the pedestrian lane at the bridge's western end (Halifax abutment) to prevent suicide attempts and protect navy staff below. Initially, the Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission

1849-415: Was undertaken in the late 1990s and completed in 1999 which saw the original two lanes and one sidewalk and utility corridor expanded to three lanes, with the centre lane being reversible to assist with traffic flow during peak periods. To reduce the weight of the roadway, asphalt and concrete were removed and special steel plating (an orthotropic deck ) was used in its place. This deck is 35% lighter than

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