Halifax bridges prepare to remove tolls on April 1
The Halifax Bridge Commission is gearing up for a significant change as tolls are set to be removed in less than two months, following the provincial government’s confirmation of this promise earlier this week.
During the presentation of the 2025-26 budget on Tuesday, Finance Minister John Lohr announced that tolls on the Angus L. Macdonald and A. Murray MacKay bridges would be eliminated as of April 1.
Steve Proctor, spokesperson for Halifax Harbour Bridges, explained that while the toll booths will remain in place in April, the dedicated MacPass and cash-only lanes will be reconfigured to allow traffic to flow freely.
“It’s going to be a slightly different setup. We urge people to take their time, give everyone a chance to adjust to the new system from a safety perspective. We can’t have vehicles speeding through,” Proctor stated on Tuesday.
In addition to the toll removal, there will be other changes at the toll plazas, according to Proctor, aside from the fact that drivers will no longer have to pay for the tolls.
Furthermore, Proctor mentioned that there will be increased enforcement on the bridges to manage the anticipated surge in traffic.
In 2024, Halifax Harbour Bridges generated approximately $36 million in toll revenue. The province has allocated $15 million for this year as an operating grant to the bridge commission, which will transition into a new Crown corporation, and $86 million for capital repairs.
The capital funds are essential for various projects on both bridges, including several closures on the MacKay Bridge this year to replace bearings and carry out roadwork.
The transformation into a Crown corporation primarily involves a financial shift, as stated by Proctor. This means that they will no longer collect revenues from drivers, but the board of commissioners composed of municipal councillors and provincial appointees will remain in place.
Apart from the financial benefits for drivers, Premier Tim Houston has claimed that removing the tolls will alleviate traffic congestion, a statement that has been contested by some experts.
According to Coun. David Hendsbee, a bridge commission board member, road improvements would be necessary to handle the increased traffic volume. However, the city currently has no plans to modify the roadways leading to the bridges following the cancellation of a redesign of the Windsor Street exchange.
Hendsbee emphasized the importance of adequate annual funding from the province to the bridge commission to offset the increased wear and tear on the bridges due to higher traffic volumes.
He also highlighted the need for the PC government to initiate the process of replacing the MacKay Bridge, noting that the structure has approximately 15 years of service life remaining. The design and engineering phases, as well as any necessary land acquisition, will take a considerable amount of time.
Additionally, the Nova Scotia government is allocating a one-time infusion of $300 million to the provincial debt to account for assuming responsibility for the bridges.
