No extra ferry service if bridge delays continue

HALIFAX – The municipality said it is unlikely extra ferry service will be added if delays in re-opening the Macdonald Bridge continue.

Spokesperson Tiffany Chase said ferry service is already running at maximum capacity.

“There’s not much more we can do to add ferry service during peak hours,” she said.

Many commuters detoured to ferry terminals Friday morning after Halifax Harbour Bridges announced a delay in moving a gantry meant the bridge would not re-open on time.

“We saw additional passenger volume at both Alderney Landing and Woodside this morning. We had to ask people to wait an additional 15 minutes for the next ferry,” Chase said.

She said there were only two trips Friday that were at capacity; the ferries can hold up to 300 passengers. She said the ferries are not normally at capacity on Friday mornings.

Chase said that if Halifax Transit receives advance notice about bridge delays, it may be able to bring in extra crew members, which allows them to increase the number of passengers allowed on a ferry. However, she said there was no advance notice of the delays with the bridge Friday morning.