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Light mast collapses near Halifax’s MacKay Bridge, ‘fatigue’ found in 7 other masts

Halifax Harbour Bridges closed the Victoria Road Interchange Sunday afternoon to carry out an emergency inspection of light standards in the area. File / Global News

Halifax Harbour Bridges (HHB) is inspecting and dismantling light standards in the Victoria Road interchange for Halifax-bound traffic accessing the MacKay Bridge.

A 20-metre mast collapsed early Sunday morning, damaging two vehicles. No one was injured.

There were high winds at the time — part of an intense storm that also brought heavy rain.

HHB closed the interchange Sunday, while staff and engineers inspected the remaining 13 light masts.

“Evidence of fatigue was apparent in three structures and work began immediately to dismantle them. A crane with 150-foot reach was on the scene,” HHB wrote in a news release.

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Inspection work continued on Monday morning, and engineers found four other masts with “similar signs of fatigue.”

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Work to dismantle the masks will continue until Monday evening. During the work, HHB has closed the Victoria Road interchange and bridge access to Highway 111.

HHB said the masts were installed by the Department of Transportation in 2001 and were most recently inspected three years ago, when the top halogen-lighting section was replaced by an LED system.

“There was no sign of fatigue at that time,” HHB noted.

 

Click to play video: 'Clearance bars coming to MacKay Bridge after ‘dramatic increase’ in canopy strikes'
Clearance bars coming to MacKay Bridge after ‘dramatic increase’ in canopy strikes

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