The £740m bridge completely covered from start to finish with eye-watering toll price
Canada's Confederation bridge is the world's longest bridge over ice-covered water.
The Confederation Bridge, also known as Pont de la Confédération, which links Prince Edward Island with New Brunswick in Canada, is a marvel of modern engineering and the world’s longest bridge over ice-covered water.
Ordinarily, tolls on the Confederation Bridge, which opened on May 31, 1997, are adjusted annually in line with inflation.
However, Transport Canada announced it will provide funding to Strait Crossing Bridge Limited to offset rising costs, ensuring businesses and individuals are not burdened further amid inflationary pressures.
Federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez stated in a news release: "We know the Confederation Bridge has a huge impact for local community members and businesses."
The 12.9-kilometre (eight-mile) bridge, which cost CAD 1.3 billion (£740 million) to build, carries the Trans-Canada Highway across the Abegweit Passage of the Northumberland Strait.
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It is a multi-span balanced cantilever bridge with a post-tensioned concrete box girder structure, featuring 62 piers and a navigation span of 60 meters (197 feet) for ship traffic.
Toll charges are only applied when leaving Prince Edward Island. For a regular two-axle car, the toll is $50.25 CAD (£28 approximately).
Each additional axle costs $8.50 CAD (£34.80), making the total $58.75 CAD (roughly £33) for a car with a small trailer, and $75.50 CAD (£42.60) for an 18-wheeler. Motorcycles are charged $20 CAD (£11.29).
The federal government owns the bridge but has contracted Strait Crossing to operate it and collect tolls until at least 2032. This marks the second consecutive year the federal government has intervened to freeze toll rates.
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Premier Dennis King of Prince Edward Island had advocated for reducing the bridge toll to $20 CAD ahead of the April 2023 provincial election, arguing the current tolls posed a "competitive disadvantage" for Islanders.
The speed limit on the bridge is 80kmph (50mph), varying with wind and weather conditions, and it takes about 12 minutes to cross at the speed limit.
The bridge remains a vital link for the local communities and businesses, providing an essential route between Prince Edward Island and mainland Canada.
