Removal of the walking and cycling lanes of the MacDonald Bridge in Halifax is underway as part of the Big Lift deck replacement project.

The careful dismantling of the bridge lanes began Wednesday night and will take two to three weeks for more than 300 panels to be removed.

The walking and cycling lanes are only 15 years old, and Alison MacDonald with Halifax Harbour Bridges says they will be given a second life.

"We are giving the sidewalk and bike lane panels that are over the suspended portion of the bridge to HRM and a variety of trails associations around the province and they will use them as bridges over streams," she said.

Although fairly new, the walking and biking lanes had to come off for the deck replacement project.

The new lanes will have a different look and there won't be a gap between them and the main road.The new deck segments will be all-in-one.

Question of new off ramps

Once the new deck segments are in place, there is still the question of new off-ramps for cyclists on the Halifax side of the bridge.

A report was supposed to be ready by the end of July. Now a report listing possible replacement options and the cost will go to council the first week of September.

Cyclists have told city officials replacing the current exit off the MacDonald Bridge is their number one priority.

Councillors Jennifer Watts says the timing is critical.

"The idea was, at least give us a progress report about what some options may be," she said.

"We may be able to give some further direction then be able to actually look at if there's potential to actually move on a project and particularly within the next budget year as the re-decking is finalizing."

The deck replacement project is expected to last 18 months. Bridge officials agree if the off ramps are to be changed, it makes sense to do it before the lanes are re-opened.