N.S. issues request for proposals as it determines future of Halifax’s MacKay Bridge

The McKay Bridge, a suspension bridge in Halifax is pictured on June 8, 2026. (Callum Smith/CTV News Atlantic)

The Nova Scotia government has issued a request for proposals for a consultant as it figures out next steps for Halifax’s aging A. Murray MacKay Bridge.

The province said Friday the consultant will evaluate viable long-term transportation options across the Halifax Harbour.

“The MacKay is a critical transportation link for Nova Scotia, handling a significant share of commuter and commercial traffic across the Halifax Harbour,” said Public Works Minister Fred Tilley in a statement.

“We have a responsibility to get this right so future generations have a safe, reliable and efficient harbour crossing that supports economic growth, mobility and quality of life throughout our region.”

The province is asking for:

• an overview of the background, context and current state of the bridge
• other possible crossing options
• an outline of the preliminary design for the preferred crossing option
• cost estimates, procurement options and funding strategies.

“Acting now to develop a business case will ensure that we have the insights required to make a decisive, future-oriented choice that advances economic opportunity and improves connectivity for the next generation of Nova Scotia businesses and travellers,” said Halifax Harbour Bridges CEO Tony Wright.

The province says a steering committee will oversee the procurement process and business case development. The committee includes staff from Halifax Harbour Bridges, Link Nova Scotia, the Halifax Regional Municipality and the Department of Public Works.

MacKay Bridge facts

The MacKay Bridge opened 56 years ago, on July 10, 1970. It was the second bridge built over Halifax Harbour, after the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge, which opened on April 2, 1955.

Roughly 65,000 vehicles cross the four-lane MacKay Bridge daily. It’s the only bridge that allows commercial traffic.

The Macdonald Bridge already underwent a significant project, dubbed “The Big Lift,“ which saw the entire suspended structure of the bridge replaced over the course of several years.

The province says both bridges support more than $120 million in economic activity each year.

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