Bridging the Strait: The Story of The Confederation Bridge Project

By: Copthorne Macdonald

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Synopsis: June 1997 marked the opening of the Confederation Bridge which spans the Northumberland Strait and connects Prince Edward Island to New Brunswick. The bridge, designed and built by the international consortium Strait Crossing, is one of the most innovative engineering projects undertaken in Canada. It is the longest bridge ever constructed over ice covered water and one of the longest continuous multi-span bridges in the world. Bridging the Strait describes the arduous trips taken by ice boats, ferries, steamers and ice breakers which have been the link to PEI. The author, Copthorne Macdonald, traces the events leading up to the building of the bridge. He explains the problems faced by the Strait Crossing team, and tells the story of how they overcame challenging obstacles such as ice, wind and treacherous ocean currents. The stunning achievement of the Confederation Bridge is celebrated in this handsome book. It highlights the contribution of Strait Crossing, and Public Works Canada, who steered the project from conception to completion, and it provides a fitting tribute to the engineers and designers who solved the technical problems and the workers who sacrificed to bring the project to fruition.