Confederation Bridge, Road bridge in Borden-Carleton, Canada.
The Confederation Bridge is a road crossing in Borden-Carleton, Canada, that stretches 12.9 kilometers across the Northumberland Strait and rests on 62 prestressed concrete piers. Its box girder deck sits 40 meters (131 feet) above sea level and measures 11 meters (36 feet) wide, allowing for two lanes of traffic.
Construction began in 1993 and finished in 1997, following decades of political discussion about creating a permanent link between the mainland and Prince Edward Island. Completion transformed the economic landscape of the island by ending reliance on ferry service and opening new opportunities for business and travel.
Islanders still refer to the crossing as the Fixed Link, a name that recalls decades of debate about connecting Prince Edward Island permanently to the mainland. Today it shapes daily routines and has ended the isolation that separated the island from the rest of Canada for centuries.
A toll applies only for westbound travel from Prince Edward Island toward the mainland, while the eastbound direction remains free of charge. Cyclists and pedestrians use a shuttle service, as the crossing itself is accessible only to motor vehicles and may close briefly during high winds.
Specialized ice shields protect each pier from the pressure of ice floes that drift through the strait during winter months. This design allows the crossing to stand where ice-covered water and strong currents once halted ferry traffic for months at a time.
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