A. Murray MacKay Bridge Deck Panel Replacement

Dartmouth and Halifax, Nova Scotia

The A. Murray MacKay Suspension Bridge, which opened in 1970, carries four lanes of traffic and 65,000 vehicles daily over the Halifax Harbour between Dartmouth and Halifax, representing a critical arterial. Halifax Harbour Bridges (HHB) engaged COWI to design modular replacement orthotropic steel plate deck panels during weekend bridge closures. Replacing these panels extends bridge life, improves safety, and prevents potential future long term bridge closures, thus avoiding unprecedented disruption to the city. Additionally, this modular design allows HHB to pre-fabricate replacement panels in advance of replacement on the bridge and install them in virtually any location providing HHB the maximum agility in risk management.

The COWI team received high praise from the jury for its forward-thinking use of OSPD panels, a wise engineering choice that extends the structure's life and will simplify future maintenance. Despite the complexity of working on a suspension bridge, the adaptable and modular engineering solution allows for easy future adjustments, enhancing safety and minimizing disruption.

For additional information on this project, click here.