The Halifax Regional Municipality is advising residents of the following road closures and transit service enhancements as it prepares to welcome Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta this weekend.
Angus L. MacDonald Bridge
Halifax Harbour Bridges has confirmed the MacDonald Bridge will be open to vehicles, bikes and pedestrians from 5:30 a.m. Friday, July 28 until 7 p.m. Sunday, July 30.
Road Closures and Parking Restrictions
Lower Water Street between George and Prince Streets will be closed to vehicle traffic Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30.
The closure will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily and will be used as a pedestrian walkway for festival visitors.
A traffic detour will be in place on Bedford Row.
There will be no parking on Bedford Row between Prince and George streets during this time. No-parking areas will marked and illegally parked vehicles will be subject to ticketing and towing in order to keep the detour routes clear.
Halifax Transit Service Enhancements
Regular Saturday ferry service will be in place Saturday, July 29.
Below is a listing of the expanded ferry service that will be provided on Sunday, July 30:
Alderney/Halifax Route
· 6:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. (30-minute service; :00 and :30 departing Alderney to Halifax; :15 and :45 departing Halifax to Alderney)
· 11:15 a.m. to 7 p.m. (15-minute service at both terminals)
· 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. (30-minute service; :00 and :30 departing Alderney to Halifax; :15 and :45 departing Halifax to Alderney)
On Tuesday, August 1, there will be 15-minute service on the Alderney/Halifax Route from 6.30 a.m. to 12 a.m. The 15-minute service is being offered throughout the morning to support anticipated demand during for the Parade of Sailwhen crowds will gather to bid farewell to the Tall Ships.
Passenger safety is the crew’s main priority and riders are reminded that access to exits and lifesaving equipment cannot be blocked by any objects such as bicycles, trailers, and Segways. Riders may be asked by crew members to move their items and in extreme cases passengers traveling with large items may be asked to wait for the next ferry if their items cannot be stowed safely due to high passenger volumes.
Bus Service
Halifax Transit will be providing standby buses to supplement existing bus service from Friday, July 28 to Monday, July 31. These standby buses will be deployed to high volume routes and respond to passenger demand.
Bus Shuttle
On Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30, bus shuttles will operate from Alderney Terminal to Lower Water Street Terminal to provide alternatives to the ferry service.
Service will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bus shuttles will leave terminals on demand (as filled).
· Halifax Bound – Alderney Terminal to Lower Water Terminal
· Dartmouth Bound – Lower Water Terminal to Alderney Terminal
Standard transit fares apply to all bus, ferry and shuttle services during Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta.
Transit users are encouraged to use Park and Ride facilities to make weekend travelling easier:https://www.halifax.ca/transportation/halifax-transit/park-ride
Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta
For all festival information, including event schedules and maps, please visit rdv2017ns.com.
The municipality wishes residents and visitors a safe and enjoyable weekend.
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Source: Media Release