Choosing the green road
Bridge construction and maintenance involve a lot of steelwork, paving and painting that generally aren’t great for the environment. Add to that the facilitation of pollution-emitting vehicles by our users and our sustainability story could be bleak.
But it is not. HHB has an impressive number of green initiatives and is actively seeking to strengthen its focus on sustainability.
HHB’s existing commitment to sustainability is reflected in its recently revised five-year strategic plan with the explicit goal of improving safety, efficiency, and environmental stewardship. The plan also includes a 2025 outcome that calls for the development of a sustainability assessment for all major projects.
The organization’s strong commitment to the environment in both in its day- to day operations and in the planning and implementation of major projects is evident in some of the projects we undertake. Those include:
Installation of a solar-powered gate
The introduction of hybrid/electric vehicles
Paint recycling programs
Creation of a green roof on MACPASS Office
Introduction of bridge wash program that helps paint last longer
Office recycling
MACPASS recycling so they don’t end in landfill
Annual reports become downloadable digital-first documents
Conversion of a paper-based document filing system to a digital system
A procurement policy that requires all RFP/tender submissions to include an environmental protection plan
A program to remove lead-based paint on the bridges and replace it with a zinc-based paint
Old lead-based paint that has been removed is contained and shipped offsite for proper disposal
LED lighting is installed on the bridges and throughout buildings
Waste metal recycling: Sections of the Macdonald Bridge’s original sidewalk/bikeway were donated to local community groups for use as walking/ATV trail bridges
HHB has prohibited the use of pesticides in landscaping
Trees and native species are planted around the on ramps of the MacKay Bridge
A parking space has been designated for Atlantic Car Share parking at Macdonald Bridge parking lot
Sidewalks and the bikeway promote active transportation
A bike fix-it station has been refurbished below the Macdonald Bridge
Managers are taking sustainability certification courses
Exterior water fountains have been installed on the Dartmouth side of the Macdonald Bridge encouraging the use of reusable water bottles
HHB recently created a committee/working group charged with updating HHB’s original Environmental Action Plan and exploring projects and processes that will make it an even better guardian of the environment.
If the effort is successful, HHB’s environmental commitment will be embedded into its organizational culture with the same level of importance as safety, cybersecurity, and equity diversity and inclusion.