A mandatory evacuation order has been lifted for 135 homes east of Dartmouth along the Little Salmon River from North Preston to Lawrencetown — prompted by the threat of a dam breaching.

In an update Saturday afternoon, officials with Halifax Water said the necessary work has been completed and people can start heading home at 5 p.m. AT this evening.

Bridges over Highway 107 and Highway 207 were open Saturday, but four other bridges in the area were closed. They were expected to reopen Saturday evening once the evacuation order was lifted.

"Traffic barricades will be pulled from all the roads and bridges at 5 p.m., except those on Lake Major Road and at the intersection of North Preston Road and Johnson Road. Those barricades will be removed at 7 p.m.tonight to allow crews time to remove their equipment and exit the work site," Halifax Water spokesman James Campbell said in a release.

"The Route 61 through North Preston will remain on a detoured route until the barricade on Lake Major Road is lifted. Detour information is on Halifax Transit’s service disruptions page."

Campbell said 90 per cent of people under the evacuation order left Friday night by 11 p.m. The evacuation was prompted by the risk of flooding should there be a breach of the dam during repair work.

Campbell said the fish ladder at the Lake Major dam was damaged during the heavy rain event on Dec. 10. He said the damage was discovered during the inspection on Thursday.

He said some of the armour stone anchoring the structure was