A section of Quinpool Road will be closed to traffic for at least four months beginning April 1

A section of Quinpool Road will be closed to traffic for at least four months beginning April 1.

City spokesperson Brynn Langille reminds residents that there will be an adjustment period for the first few weeks.

"We certainly understand that this will be an inconvenience for a number of people," Langille says. "We definitely appreciate everyone's patience while this work is underway."

The road closure is due to safety repairs to the CN Bridge. Vehicles will be detoured to Chebucto Road and Connaught Avenue. Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to take Armview Avenue to Tupper Grove and Prince Arthur Street.

"We've been communicating the details of the detour so people can familiarize themselves with the new route that's in place well in advance," Langille says.

The municipality is trying to discourage motorists from "short-cutting" to try to get around the flow of traffic.

"It's typically faster and more efficient to remain in the flow of traffic," says Langille. "If you do take a shortcut onto one of the local streets, it may be hard to re-enter that flow of traffic when you try to at the other end of Quinpool."

Quinpool Road typically sees over 25, 000 vehicles each day, and although the majority of the work will be in the summer while school is out, Langille says residents should still consider alternative forms of transportation, including transit, cycling, or carpooling.

HRM has also developed a ride-matching program, which is available on their website.

"Essentially, it aligns people with similar schedules and destinations together so that they can ride together, which in turn would decrease the number of cars that are on the road and help with congestion," Langille says.

Jo-Ann Roberts is deputy leader of the federal Green Party, and lives in the Quinpool area of Halifax. She thinks that the Quinpool closure is the perfect opportunity to encourage more eco-friendly modes of transportation.

"I think it would be a great incentive for people who are already looking for ways that they can try and mitigate the length of time they're going to be in their cars," says Roberts.

She says bus routes like the number 32 (Cowie Hill Express) and the number 9 (Herring Cove) typically go down Quinpool, but will be rerouted down Chebucto Road.

"The goal here would be to get people out of cars," says Roberts. "I'd like to see them really make it an incentive, and make [buses] free for this pilot period."

The deputy leader thinks that times like this are the perfect opportunity to "convert" car drivers to bus users.

"You have people try it at a difficult time, give them an incentive," she says. "Suddenly you discover, 'Hey, I can get a lot of work done, I can read my book, it's a good way to come in to work.' You might stick with it even after all the work is done on Quinpool."

Although HRM has to plans to increase bus service, they will be monitoring how busy the routes are, and the flow of traffic in the area.

"If you're a person who takes that route, they want to hear from you, so make sure they do," says Roberts. "Figure out how much longer you're on a bus, or in your car, and let them know."

