20 years

Tags

Bridge, Canada., Confederation bridge, Jean Mueller, PEI, transport

Today 31 May 2017 marks the twentieth anniversary of the opening of the Confederation Bridge linking the mainland  of Canada to PEI. The construction of the bridge required a special amendment to the Canadian Constitution because it involved the clauses which allowed PEI at the time a colony to join Confederation. The Island Government had a special condition that in joining in 1873 they would get financing for the railway on the Island and also a ferry service paid for, operation and maintenance, by the Federal Government. A special referendum was held and 60% of the Islanders voted in favour of the construction of the bridge and the end of train service on the Island.

Construction of the 12.3 Km sea bridge over the Abegweit channel of the Strait of Northumberland took place between 1993-1997 at a cost of $1.3 Billion dollars. The architect was Frenchman Jean Mueller who developed a new technique of pre-cast concrete for such a construction making it a marvel of engineering, the longest bridge over sea water locked in ice in winter.

the footing of the bridge on the sea bed

 

The bridge under construction around 1995.

The bridge in Winter ice, this is when storms are at their worst with 100Km winds being frequent, but you can still cross with a private car.

What it looks like when driving across at the middle section point

The opening of the bridge was a very big deal for PEI and in the years that followed saw an increase in investments and business, day trips are now common to the Island, we are only 2 hours away from Moncton and 3 hours from Halifax, it put an end to the isolation and made going to and from New Brunswick or Nova Scotia much simpler and faster. What was lost was the adventure of the ferry service.

From my home in Charlottetown I am at 35 minutes from the bridge going West. The sticking point to this day is the toll to use the bridge at 46$ return. It is believed that in 2036 the toll will be removed once the contract with the private firm maintaining the bridge ends.

A boy and his dog

Tags

Bar-B-Q, beef, Canada., Confederation bridge, Miscouche, PEI, Victoria Day

Well not exactly my dog, since this is a friends dog, one of two bichon frisé, taken on their terrace at their home near Miscouche in PEI, we visited them for our Victoria day Bar-B-Q. Our two stayed in Charlottetown at home for the afternoon.

I made the burger with PEI Beef from a recipe I learned from our butcher some 30 years ago, always a hit, moist and so good, I also stuff them with a good quality Blue Cheese.

They have a vineyard on the property, growing a variety of grapes from Concord,  Riesling, Foch, Pinot Gris, etc. We also drove to their beach which is 3 KM from the house straight down. The view on the Strait of Northumberland is great, in the far distance we could barely see the bridge to the mainland stretching 12Km over the water. Beautiful bright Sunny day with a cool wind.

 

The bridge

Tags

Canada., Confederation bridge, Jean M. Muller, PEI

The header photo is of the Confederation Bridge built in 1997 to connect the mainland of Canada to the Province of Prince Edward Island. It takes 10 minutes at a speed of no more than 60Km to cross over the sea Straits of Northumberland a distance of 12.5 Km. A marvel of 20th century engineering, designed by Jean M. Muller a French engineer. In this photo the view is of PEI as you drive from the mainland.

I will be crossing it on Wednesday 11 May.

In a month’s time

Tags

Canada., Charlottetown, Confederation, Confederation bridge, cuisine, Dalvay, Food, PEI, Sea link

We will be crossing this bridge over the Northumberland Strait from New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island, the Sea link with the Island. Hopefully that day the weather will be clement and the winds low. Tomorrow Sunday  the winds will blow at 100Km. However when driving a car you cannot see above the high walls, the bridge is 12.5 km long and it takes about 11 minutes to cross over the sea. The strait is famous in folklore circles for regular sightings of the Ghost Ship of Northumberland Strait, a flaming vessel which appears in the middle of the strait.

The Confederation Bridge connecting PEI to the Continent.

The bridge was opened in 1997 and is the work of Jean Mueller, a French engineer, it is the longest bridge in the world over ice covered Strait, it took 5 years to build at a cost one billion dollars. Truly the most important engineering feat in XXth century Canada.

The red earth and red sandy beaches of PEI which is a distinct feature of the Island.

Charlottetown Town is the Capital of the Province, birthplace of Canada where the conference took place in 1864 to Unite the original provinces into one independent country.

Fanningbank the Official Residence of H.H.the Lieutenant Governor of PEI built in 1834 in the Palladian style on land owned by Governor Edmund Fanning. It has been a Vice-Regal Residence ever since and has hosted numerous Official functions including the Fathers of Confederation, Royalty coming to Charlottetown and Heads of State from around the world. The Residence is on 100 acres of land and next to Victoria Park on the waterfront.

Province House in Charlottetown, built in Palladian Style in 1839. This is the current seat of the Provincial Assembly (Parliament) of PEI. This is where the meetings and the conference to set the frame for Confederation was discussed by the Fathers of Canada. The final document would be signed a few months later in Quebec City.

Saint Dustan Cathedral R.C. a few steps away from Province House. You can see the steeple from everywhere in the Capital.

Victoria Row in central Charlottetown with its stone facade buildings witness to the wealth of the Island as the tall ship building capital of the world in the 19th century.

St-Paul Anglican Cathedral which has a marvellous chapel of frescos in the Pre-Raphaelite style painted by the great Canadian painter Robert Harris (1849-1919) who would paint the famous Father of Confederation large canvas which is a national treasure.

One of the numerous English Parks in the old 500 block area of Charlottetown.

A residential street in the City

North River Rd. in Charlottetown

The marina on Lower Water Street where the Cruise ships dock, this is also the spot where the Fathers of Confederation arrived in 1864. The beautiful gardens around the Marina are a gift from the City of Quebec which is the other founding city of what we call Canada today.

Port La Joye build in 1720 on Île St-Jean now PEI by the French at the entrance of the Harbor of Charlottetown.

The first European settlers in the area were French military personnel from Fortress Louisbourg who founded a settlement in 1720 named Port La-Joye on the southwestern part of the harbour opposite the present-day city of Charlottetown. This settlement effort was led by Michel Haché-Gallant, who used his sloop to transport Acadian settlers from Louisbourg on Île Royal.

Acadian settlers established farms in the surrounding area while under French control from 1720–1745 and 1746–1758 and the French military established a small military force at the outpost, garrisoned with troops from Louisbourg.

Victoria Park in Charlottetown

Just 25 minutes outside Charlottetown, the wonderful beaches at Dalvay

 

So why are we going in February to PEI? Well we are exploring possibilities and the future. So stay tuned for developments.

 

Winter scene taken this January 2016 

Spectacular Sunset in PEI

Charlottetown under snow, January 2016.