Macdonald Bridge Big Lift work to close span this weekend

The Angus L.Macdonald Bridge in Halifax will be closed the last weekend before Christmas as the fourth deck section of the span is replaced as part of the Big Lift project.

It's been a month since the last section was installed.

"We had hoped to be much further ahead. We expected to be at the tower by now," said Jon Eppell, chief engineer for Halifax Harbour Bridges.

• Macdonald bridge's Big Lift project in Halifax explained

Eppell says it's taking longer for the work crews to figure out the various stages of the job.The latest delay was due to the replacement of bolts on the hanging cable bands.

The machinethat lifts the deck sections up from the barge is attached to the cables.The bolt replacement work is done from inside what's called "cable crawlers."

"They had some challenges getting those working," Eppell said."It's kind of like being in a little dory hanging up in the air, so it's sensitive up there."

If the project continued at its current pace, it would take a year to complete 24 of the 46segments.

Bridge officials are still confident the deck replacement work will be done by late fall 2016.They believe the process will speed up once the learning curve for all aspects of the job is over.

Construction on the Big Lift will take a break over the holidays. There will beno daytime or overnight closures once the bridge opens on the morning of Dec.24until Jan.3.

"In spite of the fact that we haven't made as much progress as we'd like, everyone has been working very hard and they need a break," said Eppell.