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Home · Economy & Business · Transport · The Confederation Bridge: P.E.I. Connects

Topic spans: 1969 - 2002

The Confederation Bridge: P.E.I. Connects

Almost since Confederation, a link between Prince Edward Island and the rest of Canada was a lively possibility. But would a fixed link sacrifice the island's stand-alone charm or just make life more convenient? And could a link disrupt the delicate ecosystem of the Northumberland Strait? From fishermen to farmers to ferry workers, the island's prospects were debated and protected. In 1988, after a 60-40 vote, the inevitable came to pass. It wouldn't be a tunnel or causeway; it would be a curvaceous, 12.9-kilometre bridge.

Confederation Bridge photo from Flickr Creative Commons courtesy of Quasimime

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10 television clips
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3 radio clips

The link rises

Broadcast Date: June 19, 1995

Six thousand construction workers and one enormous floating crane are bringing the bridge into existence. Watching the pillars of concrete come jutting out from the Northumberland Strait is a bitter reminder of a lost fight for some P.E.I. residents. For others, it's an exciting indication that life is really about to change for good.
This CBC Television report takes a peak at the bridge's progress and the growing anxiety and anticipation that follows in its wake.

The link rises

• For those hard to reach places, construction workers used the one-of-a-kind floating crane called Svanen (The Swan). The crane is 100 metres high and can lift up to 8,700 tonnes — a maximum weight that just barely supported the bridge's largest piece.
• Building began in fall of 1993 and was completed in May of 1997.

The link rises

Medium: Television

Program: Prime Time News

Broadcast Date: June 19, 1995

Guest(s): Valerie Downe, Irene Novaczek, Kevin Pytyck, Ken Pytyck


Reporter: Kas Roussy

Duration: 2:10

Last updated:
Oct. 23, 2009


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