Macdonald Bridge's 'Big Lift' starts March 1

Attention, Halifax commuters: circle March 1, 2015, on your calendars. Thats the day months of overnight closures begin on the Macdonald Bridge across Halifax Harbour.

The closures are part of whats being called the Big Lift, a major renovation job that will see the deck of the suspension bridge replaced piece by piece.

Halifax bridge officials released their updated timeline Thursday.

The first impact on drivers will be the overnight closures that will run from 7p.m. to 5:30 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, starting in March. Bicycle lanes and sidewalks will remain open during that period.

But fromthe end of June, the bike lanes and sidewalks will be removed. And by late August, the bridge deck replacement will begin.

A shuttle service will be provided when bike lanes and sidewalks are closed.

There are 46 pieces to be replaced. The work will start on the Dartmouth side of the bridge. Its expected to take until the fall of 2016 to replace the decking. Sidewalks and bike lanes would reopen later that winter.

The entire project is expected to take until the fall of 2017.