Engineering & Construction

• Construction Highlights & Timeline

The Confederation Bridge utilizes a multi-span concrete box girder structure and the structure design was produced by a consortium headed by a joint venture of J. Muller International and Stantec (formerly SLG Stanley Consulting) (JMS).

Components for the approach bridges were produced at the New-Brunswick Staging Facility in Bayfield. The components consist of precast concrete and were transported by land or water to the bridge site and assembled in place by a twin launching truss with a travelling gantry crane.

At the Prince Edward Island Staging Facility in Borden-Carleton, the main bridge components - pier bases, pier shafts, main girders and drop-in girders were produced. The main bridge components consist of precast concrete in steel forms.

The Confederation Bridge consists of three parts:

• The West Approach Bridge leaves Jourimain Island, New Brunswick and is 1.3 km over 14 piers.
• The East Approach Bridge leaves Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island and is 0.6 km over seven piers.
• The Main Bridge is 11.0 km and joins the approach bridges, resting on 44 piers.

The Bridge has a hollow core interior and acts as a utility corridor for electrical services, telephone, and other utilities to and from Prince Edward Island.

Confederation Bridge was designed with slight curves to ensure drivers remain attentive and reduce the potential for accidents that experts believe happen more often on straight highways or bridges. Its road surface is a special long-lasting bituminous mixture that minimizes vehicle spray during wet weather and allows for effective drainage of rainwater.

The Bridge’s highest point is located at the Navigation Span − 60 meters above water. This allows for the movement of larger sea-faring vessels under the bridge.

The distance between main piers is 250 metres. The Bridge is 11 metres wide and has a 3.75 metre wide lane for traffic in each direction with a 1.75 metre wide shoulder on each side.

One of the most structural elements is one people will never see. This literally brings together the pier bases, pier shafts and girder using a unique construction technique to create one continuous unit from all these individual components and is called post-tensioning. This technology was used to tie the many smaller segments on the PEI and New Brunswick approaches into one continuous structure.

Design Facts

• Design Life: 100 years
• Basic Structure: Shore to shore bridge; no causeway component
• Structural Materials: Reinforced, post-tensioned concrete
• Length: 12.9 km (8 miles), crossing the Strait at its narrowest point
• Width: 11 m (36 feet) from barrier wall to barrier wall, including one lane and one emergency shoulder in each direction.
• Typical Elevation: 40 m. (131 feet) off the water.
• Typical Clearance: 23 m. (75 feet) off the water by 220 m. (722 feet) wide
• Navigation Span Elevation: 60 m. (197 feet)
• Depth of Strait: Up to 35 m. (115 feet)
• Main Bridge Footings: Gravity foundation on bedrock
• Main Bridge Piers: Octagonal shafts
• Main Bridge Girders: Precast concrete box girders ranging from 4.5 m. (15 feet) to 14 m. (46 feet) deep, 190 m. (623 feet) length.
• Main Bridge Spans: 44 piers, 11,000m. (6.8 miles) total; typical span length 250m. (820 feet)
• Main Bridge Drop-In Span: Precast concrete box girder, 60 m. (197 feet) length
• PEI Approach Bridge: 7 piers, 580 m. (1/3 mile) total
• NB Approach Bridge: 14 piers, 1.29 km (8/10 mile) in total
• Approach Bridge Footings: Spread footing with drilled shear keys
• Approach Span Piers: Rectangular shafts
• Approach Bridge Spans: 93 m. (305 feet) long
• PEI Abutment Site: Just north of Borden Point
• NB Abutment Site: Jourimain Island
• Utility Corridor: A space not less than 2.0 square metres (21.5 square feet) along the entire length of the bridge which will be used to accommodate the installation and maintenance of utilities.