Coordinates: 46°12′55″N, 63°44′45″W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

The Confederation Bridge (French: Pont de la Confédération) is a bridge spanning the Abegweit Passage of Northumberland Strait, linking Prince Edward Island with mainland New Brunswick, Canada. It was commonly referred to as the "Fixed Link" by residents of Prince Edward Island prior to its official naming. Construction began in the fall of 1993, and continued for three and a half years, and cost $1 billion. The 12.9 km^[2] long bridge opened on 31 May 1997. “C$” redirects here. ... This article is about the edifice (including an index to articles on specific bridge types). ... Abegweit Passage is the narrowest part of the Northumberland Strait, comprising the 13_kilometre wide portion between Borden_Carleton, Prince Edward Island and Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick. ... The Northumberland Strait (French: détroit de Northumberland) is a strait in the southern part of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in eastern North America. ... This article is about the Canadian province. ... This article is about the Canadian province. ... “C$” redirects here. ... is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

Structure

The bridge is a two-lane highway toll bridge that carries the Trans-Canada Highway between Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island (at Route 1) and Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick (at Route 16). For the Boards of Canada record, see Trans Canada Highway (EP). ... Borden-Carleton is a Canadian village located on the south shore of Prince Edward Island, fronting on the Northumberland Strait. ... Route 1 is the Prince Edward Island section of the Trans-Canada Highway and has a total distance of 111 km (70 miles). ... Cape Jourimain is a headland in the western part of the Northumberland Strait on its southern shore, 3 kilometres west of New Brunswicks easternmost point at Cape Tormentine. ... New Brunswick Highway 16 is a secondary leg of the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH). ...

It is a multi-span post-tensioned concrete box girder structure. Most of the curved bridge is 40 metres (132 feet) above water, and it contains a 60 metre (198 feet) high navigation span to permit ship traffic. The bridge rests on 62 piers, of which the 44 main piers are 250 metres (825 feet) apart. The bridge is 11 metres (36 feet) wide. This article or section should be merged with Prestressed concrete Post-tensioned concrete is the descriptive term for a method of reinforcing concrete by applying compression to poured concrete after the curing process (in situ). ... A box girder bridge is a bridge commonly used for roadway flyovers and for modern elevated structures of light rail transport. ...

Tolls are paid only when exiting Prince Edward Island; the current toll rate is $40.75 for an automobile, with other rates for different types of vehicles. Pedestrians and cyclists are not permitted to cross; however, a shuttle service is available. The shuttle service was free of fares through 2005, then $4.00 per pedestrian or $8.00 per cyclist since January 1, 2006 have been charged only when exiting Prince Edward Island. The speed limit on the bridge is 80 km/h (50 mph). It takes about 10 minutes to cross the bridge. is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Heading southbound towards New Brunswick

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Steamships, iceboats, and ferries

As a part of Prince Edward Island's admission into the Dominion of Canada in 1873, the Canadian government was obligated to provide...

"efficient steam service for the conveyance of mails and passengers to be established and maintained between the Island and the mainland of the Dominion, winter and summer, thus placing the Island in continuous communication with the Intercolonial Railway and the railway system of the Dominion..."

Following Confederation, early steamship services across Northumberland Strait connected the Island ports of Charlottetown and Georgetown with railway facilities at Pictou, Nova Scotia. Similar services operated between Summerside and Shediac, New Brunswick. Intercolonial Railway of Canada logo or herald The Intercolonial Railway of Canada (IRC), also referred to as the Intercolonial Railway, was a historic Canadian railway. ... Motto: Template:Unhide = CUNABULA FOEDERIS (Birthplace of Confederation) Location City Information Established: 1764 Area: 44. ... Georgetown is a town, located at the mouth of the Brudenell River at Cardigan Bay, in Kings County, Prince Edward Island, Canada. ... Pictou redirects here. ... Summerside (pop. ... The worlds largest lobster sculpture located in Shediac Shediac (46°13′N 64°32′W, AST) is a town located in Shediac Parish, Westmorland County, New Brunswick, Canada on the Northumberland Strait, about 20 km from the city of Moncton. ...

The most direct route across the Northumberland Strait, however, was at the 13 kilometre wide Abegweit Passage. Infrequent winter service provided by underpowered steamships incapable of breaking sea ice ensured the survival of a passenger and mail service across Abegweit Passage using iceboats until a permanent ferry service was established in the 1910s. Abegweit Passage is the narrowest part of the Northumberland Strait, comprising the 13_kilometre wide portion between Borden_Carleton, Prince Edward Island and Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick. ... Two iceboats being hauled over ice during their crossing on Northumberland Strait (date unknown). ... The ferryboat Dongan Hills, filled with commuters, about to dock at a New York City pier, circa 1945. ... // The 1910s represent the culmination of European militarism which had its beginnings during the second half of the 19th Century. ...

The unsatisfactory winter steamship service and reliance upon primitive iceboats provoked complaints from the Island government until the federal government decided to implement a railcar ferry service across Abegweit Passage between new ports at Port Borden and Cape Tormentine. An icebreaking railcar ferry, the Prince Edward Island, was put into service in 1915, operating on the former steamship routes until new harbour facilities were opened in 1917. Automobile service was added in 1938 and other vessels followed as the ferry service expanded in the post-war years. Borden-Carleton is a Canadian village located on the south shore of Prince Edward Island, fronting on the Northumberland Strait. ... Cape Tormentine is the name for a cape which extends into the Northumberland Strait in southeastern New Brunswick, forming the easternmost point in the province. ... For other uses, see Icebreaker (disambiguation). ... Year 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday[1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

This ferry service was initially the responsibility of Canadian Government Railways and later Canadian National Railway. From 1977–1986, CN's subsidiary CN Marine operated the ferries between Cape Tormentine and Borden. In 1986, CN Marine was renamed when all federal government ferry services in Atlantic Canada were transferred to the new Crown corporation Marine Atlantic. Canadian Government Railways (CGR) was the descriptive name used between 1915_1918 for all federal government-owned railways in Canada. ... The Canadian National Railway (CN; AAR reporting marks CN, CNA, CNIS) is a Canadian Class I railway operated by the Canadian National Railway Company headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... CN Marine was a Canadian ferry company headquartered in Moncton, New Brunswick. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... The four Canadian Atlantic provinces. ... In Commonwealth countries a Crown corporation is a state-controlled company or enterprise (a public corporation). ... Marine Atlantic ferry ports and current routes Marine Atlantic Inc. ...

Ferries and service years

• Prince Edward Island (1915–1968)
• Scotia I (various years 1917–1955)
• Scotia II (various years 1917–1968)
• Charlottetown (1931–1941)
• Abegweit (1947–1982), renamed Abby (1982–1983)
• Confederation (1962–1975)
• John Hamilton Gray (1968–1997)
• Lucy Maude Montgomery (1969–1973)
• Holiday Island (1971–1997)
• Vacationland (1971–1997)
• Abegweit (1982–1997)

The motor vessel Abegweit was the name for two different icebreaking railway, vehicle, and passenger ferries which operated across the Abegweit Passage of Northumberland Strait, connecting Port Borden to Cape Tormentine between 1947-1997. ... The MV Holiday Island is a ferry that transports vehicles and passengers between Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island and Caribou, Nova Scotia. ... The MV Vacationland was a ferry that transported vehicles and passengers between Cape Tormintine, New Brunswick and Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island from 1971 to 1997. ... The motor vessel Abegweit was the name for two different icebreaking railway, vehicle, and passenger ferries which operated across the Abegweit Passage of Northumberland Strait, connecting Port Borden to Cape Tormentine between 1947-1997. ...

Early discussions of a fixed link

Early talk of a fixed link can be traced to George Howlan who called for construction of a railway tunnel beneath Abegweit Passage at the same time as a railway was being built across the province in the 1870s. Howlan also raised the issue as a member of the provincial Legislative Assembly, and in March, 1891 as a Senator and member of a delegation to meetings on the subject, conducted at the British Parliament. The idea lost favour following his death in 1901. // The invention of the telephone (1876) by Alexander Graham Bell. ... Year 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Regions Political culture Foreign relations Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      The Senate of Canada (French: Le Sénat du Canada) is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and the House of Commons. ... Type Bicameral Houses House of Commons House of Lords Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin MP Lord Speaker Hélène Hayman, PC Members 1377 (646 Commons, 731 Peers) Political groups Labour Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats Scottish National Party Plaid Cymru Democratic Unionist Party Sinn Féin... Year 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Talk of a fixed link was revived in the 1950s and 1960s, coinciding with federal election campaigns. The topic was raised in 1957, only two years following the opening of the Canso Causeway, and at the same time as another mega-project, the St. Lawrence Seaway was being constructed. A rockfill causeway was proposed to cross Abegweit Passage, with a 300-metre (1,000 foot) bridge/tunnel to accommodate shipping. This plan was rejected for navigational reasons but was raised again in 1962, and in 1965, the federal government, ignoring concerns of the shipping industry, called for tenders for a $148 million fixed link featuring a tunnel/causeway/bridge. Approach roads and railway lines were constructed at Borden and Jourimain Island but the project was formally abandoned in 1969 upon scientific recommendation in favour of improved ferry services. the first thing that was invented was the automatic DILDO. Education grew explosively because of a very strong demand for high school and college education. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... Canso Causeway from Cape Breton Island Swing bridge after causeway, entering Cape Breton Island The Canso Causeway ( ) is a 1385 m (4583 feet)rock-fill causeway in Nova Scotia, Canada. ... The Saint Lawrence Seaway in its broadest sense (see Great Lakes Waterway) is the system of canals that permits ocean-going vessels to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes as far as Lake Superior. ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... Cape Jourimain is a headland in the western part of the Northumberland Strait on its southern shore, 3 kilometres west of New Brunswicks easternmost point at Cape Tormentine. ... Also: 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ...

Due to the extremely complex tidal regime in the Northumberland Strait consisting of diurnal and semi-diurnal cycles, any attempt to close Abegweit Passage would be next to impossible since the tidal cycles on each side of a causeway would be placed at opposites to each other. It is estimated by tidal experts at the Canadian Hydrographic Service, that tidal currents through a gap in such a causeway would be in excess of 18 knots (33 kilometres/hour), powerful enough to counter most commercial ships and to sweep away boulders the size of houses. This article is about tides in the ocean. ... Diurnal may mean: in biology, a diurnal animal is an animal that is active in the daytime. ... Canadian Hydrographic Service logo or crest The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) is Canadas hydrographic office, with responsibility for performing hydrographic surveys and publishing paper and electronic nautical charts. ... A knot is a unit of speed abbreviated kt or kn. ... A kilometre (American spelling: kilometer) (symbol: km) is a unit of length equal to 1000 metres (from the Greek words khilia = thousand and metro = count/measure). ...

New proposal and the plebiscite

Consideration of a fixed link was renewed in the 1980s by an unsolicited proposal from a Nova Scotia businessman. The federal government favoured the construction of a fixed link chiefly because of the rising costs of providing ferry service (a constitutional requirement dating from PEI's accession to Confederation) and the increasing deficits being incurred by the railway system on PEI (run as part of Canadian National, then a Crown corporation). The federal government proposed to provide a fixed subsidy for the construction and operation of a fixed link, in return for the province agreeing to the abandonment of the ferry service and the railway system. Following the election of the Conservative government of Brian Mulroney, with its agenda for regional development through so-called "mega-projects," Public Works Canada called for formal proposals in 1987 and received three offers. These proposals included a tunnel, a bridge, and a combined tunnel-causeway-bridge. The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit(Latin) One defends and the other conquers Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Regional Municipality Official languages English, Canadian Gaelic Government - Lieutenant-Governor Mayann E. Francis - Premier Rodney MacDonald (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 11 - Senate seats 10 Confederation July 1, 1867... In Commonwealth countries a Crown corporation is a state-controlled company or enterprise (a public corporation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Martin Brian Mulroney (born March 20, 1939), was the eighteenth Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ...

These developments sparked an extremely divisive debate on the Island, and Premier Joe Ghiz promised a plebiscite to gauge public support, which was held on January 18, 1988. Joseph Atallah Ghiz (January 27, 1945 - November 9, 1996) was Premier of Prince Edward Island and a lawyer. ... A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ...

Friends of the Island

During the debate, the anti-link group Friends of the Island cited potential ecological damage from the construction, as well as concerns about the impact on Prince Edward Island's lifestyle in general, and noted that the "mega-project" model has had limited success in other areas of the world, and rarely enriched the local population. The Friends of the Island believed that a fixed link was being pressured by a federal government not willing to shoulder the cost of constitutional obligations for funding an efficient ferry service, and that a link would be built largely for the benefit of mainland tourists and businesses waiting to exploit the Island. Ecology is the branch of science that studies the distribution and abundance of living organisms, and the interactions between organisms and their environment. ...

Islanders for a Better Tomorrow

The pro-link group Islanders for a Better Tomorrow noted transportation reliability would result in improvements for exporters and the tourism industry. The result was 59.4% in favour of the fixed link.

Bridge development

The debate did not end with the 1988 plebiscite and the federal government faced numerous legal challenges and a lengthy environmental impact assessment for the project. The developer of the single bridge proposal, Strait Crossing Development Inc., was selected and an announcement that the Northumberland Strait Crossing Project would be built was finally made on December 2, 1992; the developer being required to privately finance all construction through bond markets. is the 336th day of the year (337th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ...

Shareholders of Strait Crossing Development Inc. include:

• OMERS, an Ontario public servant pension fund
• VINCI Concessions Canada Inc., Montreal, Quebec
• BPC Maritime Corporation, Toronto, Ontario
• Strait Crossing Inc., Calgary, Alberta (subsidiary of W. A. Stephenson / Stephenson Construction International (SCI) Engineers & Constructors Group of Companies)
• Ballast Nedam Canada Limited, Edmonton, Alberta

Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Official languages English (de facto) Government - Lieutenant-Governor David C. Onley - Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 106 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area... Nickname: Motto: Concordia Salus (well-being through harmony) Coordinates: , Country Province Region Montréal Founded 1642 Established 1832 Government  - Mayor Gérald Tremblay Area [1][2][3]  - Total 365. ... This article is about the Canadian province. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Official languages English (de facto) Government - Lieutenant-Governor David C. Onley - Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 106 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area... This article is about the Canadian city. ... For other uses, see Alberta (disambiguation). ... For other places with the same name, see Edmonton (disambiguation). ...

Constitutional amendment

As mentioned, the Schedule to the Prince Edward Island Terms of Union in the Constitution of Canada had required steamship service to connect the Island's railway system with that of mainland North America. Steamships were replaced by a dedicated ferry service in 1917, however, no changes were made to the wording of the constitution. The fixed crossing, however, was sufficiently divergent to require a constitutional amendment (see Amendments to the Constitution of Canada). The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law in Canada; the countrys constitution is an amalgam of codified acts and uncodified traditions and conventions. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... Amendments to the Constitution of Canada are changes to the Constitution of Canada initiated by the government. ...

The Constitution Amendment Proclamation, 1993 (Prince Edward Island) dealt with this issue, as well as the issue of tolls on the crossing. It made clear that the government (or a private body) was within its right to charge a toll (an essential part of the government's financing plans) for the crossing without violating the terms of union:

"That a fixed crossing joining the Island to the mainland may be substituted for the steam service referred to in this Schedule... That, for greater certainty, nothing in this Schedule prevents the imposition of tolls for the use of such a fixed crossing between the Island and the mainland, or the private operation of such a crossing;"

Construction

Construction was started by Strait Crossing Development Inc. in the fall of 1993, beginning with preparation of staging facilities. Bridge components were built year-round from 1994 to summer of 1996, and placement of components began in fall 1994 until fall 1996. Approach roads, toll plazas and final work on the structure continued until the spring of 1997, at an estimated total cost of $1 billion. Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

All bridge components were constructed on land, in purpose-built staging yards located on the shoreline at Amherst Head, fronting on Borden Harbour just east of the town and ferry docks, and an inland facility located at Bayfield, New Brunswick about 3 kilometres (1.8 miles) west of Cape Tormentine. The Amherst Head staging facility was where all large components were built, including the pier bases, ice shields, main spans, and drop-in spans. The Bayfield facility was used to construct components for the near-shore bridges which were linked using a launching truss extending over shallow waters almost 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) from the New Brunswick shore, and 0.5 kilometres (0.3 miles) from the Prince Edward Island shore.

Extremely durable high-grade concrete and reinforcing steel was used throughout construction of the pre-cast components, with the estimated lifespan of the bridge being in excess of 100 years. Their sheer size and weight required strengthening of the soil base during the design and preparation work for the Amherst Head staging facility, as well as the use of a crawler transport system to move pieces from fabrication to storage, and onto a nearby pier. These crawler transports, using specially designed teflon-coated concrete rails, earned the nickname lobsters from workers. This article is about the construction material. ... For the company, see Rebar (Taiwan). ... Precast concrete is an ancient type of construction material made with concrete cast in a reusable mold or form and cured in a controlled environment, then transported to the construction site and lifted into place. ... Teflon is a trademark of DuPont and is commonly used for the chemical compound polytetrafluoroethylene. ... Subfamilies and Genera Neophoberinae Acanthacaris Thymopinae Nephropsis Nephropides Thymops Thymopsis Nephropinae Homarus Nephrops Homarinus Metanephrops Eunephrops Thymopides Clawed lobsters comprise a family (Nephropidae, sometimes also Homaridae) of large marine crustaceans. ...

All major components were lifted from the Amherst Head staging facility, transported, and placed in Abegweit Passage using the HLV Svanen, a Danish-built heavy lift catamaran, which during the construction of the fixed link was reportedly the tallest man-made structure in the province. HLV Svanen was custom-built for use on the Great Belt Bridge in the early 1990s, Denmark's largest construction project, and was modified at a French shipyard before working on the Northumberland Strait Crossing Project. Following the placement of the final major component and completion of the bridge structure in Abegweit Passage on November 19, 1996, HLV Svanen returned to Denmark for use in construction of the Øresund Bridge. The Great Belt Bridge The Great Belt Bridge (Danish: Storebæltsbroen) is a suspension bridge that is part of the fixed link across the Great Belt in Denmark. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... The Oresund Bridge The Oresund Bridge (joint Danish/Swedish hybrid name: Øresundsbron) is a combined two-track rail and four-lane road bridge across the Oresund strait. ...

Construction of the fixed link required over 5,000 workers ranging from labourers and specialty trades, to engineers, surveyors and managers. The economic impact of construction on Prince Edward Island was substantial, with the provincial GDP rising over 5% during the construction, providing a short-term economic boom for the Island. In classical economics and all micro-economics labour is one of three factors of production, the others being land and capital. ... Look up engineer in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Surveyor at work with a leveling instrument. ... Management (from Old French ménagement the art of conducting, directing, from Latin manu agere to lead by the hand) characterises the process of leading and directing all or part of an organization, often a business, through the deployment and manipulation of resources (human, financial, material, intellectual or intangible). ...

Naming and grand opening

The bridge from ground level on the New Brunswick side.

Since the Island-coined nickname "Fixed Link" was not considered appropriate, and the federal government-coined project name "Northumberland Strait Crossing Project" was deemed awkward, there was a need for a formal name for the structure. Throughout construction, the federal government received suggestions for names and on September 27, 1996 the name "Confederation Bridge" was chosen. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 1075 KB) Description: Confederation Bridge File links The following pages link to this file: Confederation Bridge ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 1075 KB) Description: Confederation Bridge File links The following pages link to this file: Confederation Bridge ... is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...

This name is not without controversy as many Islanders feel the word "Confederation" is overused throughout the province, finding use in the name of a Northumberland Ferries Limited vessel (M/V Confederation), a performing arts centre and art gallery (Confederation Centre of the Arts), a shopping centre (Confederation Court Mall), and the province-wide rails to trails system (Confederation Trail), as well as in tourism promotions (eg. "Birthplace of Confederation"). The preference of Islanders was reportedly to use the name "Abegweit Crossing" which would pay homage to the Abegweit Passage, the vessel M/V Abegweit which the bridge would replace, and to the Mi'kmaq traditional name for the province. Northumberland Ferries Limited (NFL) is a ferry company operating in eastern Canada and headquartered in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. ... The Confederation Centre of the Arts opened in 1964 as a national monument to Canadas Fathers of Confederation. ... Railbanking is the practice of preserving railroad rights-of-way by using them as multi-use trails. ... Confederation Trail is the name for a 470 kilometre recreational trail system in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. ... Abegweit Passage is the narrowest part of the Northumberland Strait, comprising the 13_kilometre wide portion between Borden_Carleton, Prince Edward Island and Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick. ... The motor vessel Abegweit was the name for two different icebreaking railway, vehicle, and passenger ferries which operated across the Abegweit Passage of Northumberland Strait, connecting Port Borden to Cape Tormentine between 1947-1997. ... The Mikmaq The Mikmaq (; (also spelled Míkmaq, Migmaq, Micmac or MicMac) are a First Nations people, indigenous to northeastern New England, Canadas Atlantic Provinces, and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec. ...

However, at a time when national unity had just been challenged in the razor-thin results of the 1995 Quebec referendum, the federal government opted for a bilingually appropriate and nationally accepted, politically correct name for Canada's longest bridge connecting the mainland portion of the country to the province where the first meetings at the Charlottetown Conference in September 1864 led to the Confederation of British North America.^{[citation needed]} Bill on the referendum and eventual declaration of independence. ... Delegates of the Charlottetown Convention The Charlottetown Conference was held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island for representatives from the colonies of British North America to discuss Canadian Confederation. ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... We dont have an article called Canadian-confederation Start this article Search for Canadian-confederation in. ... British North America consisted of the loyalist colonies and territories (i. ...

The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, during a state visit to Canada in 1998, referred to the bridge as "Span of Green Gables". Official Seal of the President of Ireland The President of Ireland (Irish: ) [uːəxt̪ˠəɾaːn̪ˠ n̪ˠə heːɼən̪ˠ] is the head of state of the Republic of Ireland. ... Mary Patricia McAleese (Irish: [1]; born 27 June 1951) is the eighth, and current, President of Ireland. ... State visits usually involve a military review. ... Anne of Green Gables is a book written by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery; it was first published in 1908. ...

Following the completion of the structure on November 19, 1996, SCI worked throughout the winter to prepare the bridge for use, paving the bridge deck, placing protective walls which act as wind barriers, placing bridge deck and navigational lighting, constructing the Borden-Carleton toll plaza, and finishing the New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island approach roads. In separate construction, the federal and provincial governments built a new commercial and tourist development on the abandoned CN rail yards in Borden-Carleton, with phase I of this facility opening in spring 1997 as "Gateway Village". New Brunswick has never received similar federal support to improve the economy of Cape Tormentine, which has become a shadow of its former role in PEI transportation history, although in recent years a new eco-tourist and visitor centre was opened on Jourimain Island near the western end of the bridge. is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...

The official opening for the bridge took place on May 31, 1997 with the first traffic crossing at approximately 17h00 ADT following a nationally televised ceremony which aired on CBC and included a sailpast of the schooner Bluenose II and several Canadian Coast Guard ships, a flyover by the Snowbirds, and an emotional farewell to the beloved ferries which made their final crossings that evening. It is estimated that almost 75,000 people participated in a "Bridge Walk" and "Bridge Run" during the hours immediately prior to the opening for traffic. is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), a Canadian crown corporation, is the country’s national public radio and television broadcaster. ... For other uses, see Bluenose (disambiguation) Bluenose was a Canadian schooner from Nova Scotia, a celebrated racing ship and a symbol of the province. ... Flag of the Canadian Coast Guard. ... Officially known as the Canadian Forces 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, the Snowbirds are Canadas military aerobatics or airshow flight demonstration team. ...

In the days following the opening of the bridge, ferry operator Marine Atlantic disposed of its four vessels. The ferry terminals and docks in both ports were removed over the summer of 1997. Marine Atlantic ferry ports and current routes Marine Atlantic Inc. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

Operation

The bridge is operated by Strait Crossing Bridge Limited (SCBL), a subsidiary of the Strait Crossing Development Inc. consortium which built the structure. SCBL privately manages, maintains and operates the bridge until 2032, after which time such operations will be transferred to the Government of Canada. 2032 (MMXXXII) will be a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar January 20 - 100th Anniversary of the swearing-in of Franklin D. Roosevelt January 27 - The 200th year anniversary of writer Lewis Carroll Projected return to Earth orbit of object J002E3, the discarded S-IVB third stage... The Government of Canada is the federal government of Canada. ...

The Government of Canada agreed to an annual payment of approximately $44 million for 33 years to Strait Crossing Development Inc., this being the subsidy which was formerly paid to Marine Atlantic to cover operating losses of the ferry system. These payments are in effect a mortgage and are being used by the developer to pay off construction costs. In 2032 the bridge's ownership will revert to the federal government. Marine Atlantic ferry ports and current routes Marine Atlantic Inc. ...

All tolls charged by SCBL are profit for the consortium with toll increases indexed to inflation and regulated by the federal government. The consortium has rarely commented upon the profitability of the bridge, however upon the structure's 10th anniversary, it was revealed that there had been a 30% cost over-run in construction ($330 million), which the consortium is forced to cover out of toll revenue since the federal government ferry subsidy is used to pay for the original tendered price ($1 billion). Operating costs for the bridge have also proven expensive, with warranty repairs for asphalt adherence and the complete replacement of all bridge deck lighting cutting into profits. Toll revenues have fallen over 30% since the bridge opened, largely explained by declining tourism traffic and domestic travel and currently range from $25 to $30 million annually. After expenses in 2003, the consortium received a year-end dividend of $2.6 million.^[3]

Effect

The number of tourists visiting Prince Edward Island increased from 740,000 in 1996 (the year before the bridge opened) to 1,200,000 in 1997^[4], although this has dropped off somewhat to stabilize at around 900,000 visitors annually. The number of visitors actually staying in overnight accommodations in the province has decreased below pre-1996 levels, as many visitors are now choosing to tour PEI and its beaches and attractions in "day trips" out of Moncton or Halifax before continuing to tour the rest of eastern Canada. Prince Edward Island has responded by building high-end attractions such as golf courses to encourage increased spending by tourists during their shorter stays. Demographics such as the aging baby boomer population has also resulted in fewer families visiting the island^{[citation needed]}, so overall the impact of the Fixed Link on tourism is difficult to estimate. Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see Moncton (disambiguation). ... Motto: {{Unhide = {{{}}}}} E Mari Merces (Wealth from the Sea) Logo: Location City Information Established: April 1, 1996 Area: urban area 79. ... For the video game, see Baby Boomer (video game). ...

Where the link has made a difference is in the export of food from Prince Edward Island's agriculture and fishing industries. Potato production has increased dramatically, with industrial farming techniques being used to meet the demand. An increased number of food processing plants, creating items such as french fries and potato chips, has also benefitted from access to the increased potato crop and the ease of transporting off the island. Time-critical seafood has also increased exports from Prince Edward Island since 1997. French fried potatoes, commonly known as French fries or fries (North America) or chips (United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and Commonwealth) are pieces of potato that have been chopped into batons and deep fried. ... Saratoga chips Potato chips (British English or Hiberno-English: crisps) are slim slices of potatoes deep fried or baked until crisp. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

The island has also witnessed a revolution in its retail sector since the opening of the Fixed Link. Prior to 1997, big box stores could only be found in larger centres in the Maritimes such as Halifax, Moncton, or Saint John. Prince Edward Island had a larger number of smaller, family-owned retail stores than other provinces, with few shopping malls and less selection of consumer goods. The opening of the Fixed Link was viewed with concern by government and the retail sector alike, as many thought Islanders would use the quicker transportation connection to drive to Moncton for many large-item purchases. While there was a small increase in the number of off-Island shoppers, the provincial government established a program of encouraging big box retailers to establish in the province, including elimination of provincial sales tax on clothing and footwear, resulting in a plethora of chains such as Wal-Mart, Future Shop, Staples, and Home Depot choosing to build stores on the Island. Correspondingly, many smaller locally-owned stores have gone out of business in one of the more visible impacts since the opening of the Fixed Link ^{[citation needed]}. For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Big box store is a colloquial term used to describe a retail store housed in a rectangular, one-floor building with a high ceiling. ... This article is about the Canadian region. ... For other uses, see Moncton (disambiguation). ... Saint John[3] is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick and the oldest incorporated city in Canada. ... Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ... Future Shop is a Canadian electronics retailer operating a total of 122 stores across all of Canadas provinces as of May 2007. ... Staples, Inc. ... The Home Depot (NYSE: HD) is an American retailer of home improvement and construction products and services. ...

See also

• List of bridges
• List of bridges by length
• Megaprojects

The Golden Gate Bridge spans Golden Gate, San Francisco Bay - one of the most admired and possibly most famous bridges in the world. ... Donghai Bridge, longest cross-sea bridge This is a list of the worlds bridges longer than 1 km (3281 ft) sorted by their full length above land or water. ... A megaproject is a very large investment project. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), a Canadian crown corporation, is the country’s national public radio and television broadcaster. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), a Canadian crown corporation, is the country’s national public radio and television broadcaster. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Government of Canada is the federal government of Canada. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Confederation Bridge

• Confederation Bridge
• Confederationbridge.ca
• Bridge seen from the island
• SC Infrastructure
• Confederation Bridge in the Structurae database

v • d • e Portions of the Trans-Canada Highway

British Columbia: Highway 1 • Highway 16 | Alberta: Highway 1 • Highway 16 | Saskatchewan: Highway 1 • Highway 16 | Manitoba: Highway 1 • Highway 16 • Highway 100 Ontario: Highway 17 • Highway 69 • Highway 400 • Highway 12 • Highway 7 • Highway 71 • Highway 11 • Highway 66 • Highway 417 Québec: Autoroute 40 • Autoroute 25 • Autoroute 20 • Autoroute 85 • Route 185 • Route 117 • Autoroute 15 New Brunswick: Route 2 • Route 16 | Prince Edward Island: Route 1 | Nova Scotia: Highway 104 • Highway 105 • Highway 106 | Newfoundland: Route 1