Macdonald bridge section in place to begin Big Lift

The very first, newly builtdeck section for Halifax's Angus L.Macdonald Bridgehas taken the next step in the Big Lift journey.

It's has been moved onto a barge.

• Macdonald Bridge Big Lift delayed again
• Macdonald Bridge Big Lift start delayed for this weekend
• Macdonald Bridge to be closed Friday nights for deck work
• Macdonald bridge's Big Lift project in Halifax explained

That barge will take thenew panel under the bridge so it can be lifted into place.

The deck segment wasmanufactured by Cherubini Metal Worksin Dartmouth.

"It's about 65 feet by sixty five feet and weighs about130 tonnes," said Cherubinigeneral managerSteve Ross said.

Finishing touches to the deck sectionwill be added once it is on the barge.

"We're pre-attaching the railings and the cat walks prior to the lift,so that's all going on the barge now," Ross said.

"We still havetwo more days to do the finishing touches so we have lots of time."

Weather a big factor

Bridge officialstentatively plan tobegin the deck replacement projectFriday.

Weather is the big factor.

"Wind is critical with this process." said Alison MacDonald,communication director for Halifax Harbour Bridges.

"They'llmonitor that by the minute."

If the project does begin on schedule, the Macdonald bridgewill be closed for the weekend, fromFridaynight toMondaymorning.

The first four panels will be replaced over futureweekends.

After that, workers hope to complete the process overnight.

Removing and lowering an old section of the bridge andreplacing it with the new section has only been done once before,on the Lion's Gate Bridge in Vancouver.