Transportation: Getting to PEI
PEI used to be isolated from the mainland, adccessible only by two fery routes.
While this added to the charm of Island living, it also added to the cost of
getting people and freight to and from the Island. Not to mention the impact of
storms or winter ice-up conditions. This all changed in 1997
when the 12.9 km (8 mile) Confderation Bridge was completed, giving the Island
24 hour 365 dfaya year access to & from the mainland.
The Confederation Bridge offers you the fastest auto trip to the Island. The Bridge joins Borden-Carleton, PEI
and Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick and is the longest bridge over ice covered
waters in the world. The 2 lane bridge takes 12 minutes to cross at the usual 80 km
speed limit. There is also a free shuttle service for people travelling on foot
or by bicycle. The Bridge is privately financed, built, maintained,and operated by Strait
Crossing Ltd.
Borden-Carleton is roughly 60 km from Charlottetown, typically
a 45-60 minute drive along the Trans-Canada Highway (Route 1).
The total drive time from Halifax to Charlottetown, via the Bridge, is about
3.5 - 4 hours. From elsewhere, calculate your drive
time to the NS/NB border plus another 90 minutes to reach Charlottetown.
A round trip Bridge toll is paid on exiting Prince Edward Island. This is the
Toll Rate Schedule, Confederation Bridge, Updated January 1, 2000:
Automobile | $36.25 |
Recreation Vehicle | $41.50 |
Motorcycle | $14.50 |
Truck | $41.50 |
Tractor Trailer | $51.75 |
B-Train | $103.50 |
Bus | $207.50 |
Services available on the Bridge include video surveillance, emergency call boxes,
fire extinguishers, emergency alarms and emergency response. Vehicles carrying dangerous goods and special loads are
required to report to the Bridge Control Centre to receive crossing information.
Here are the distances and driving times for out-of province cities
|
Community |
Distance from Charlottetown |
Approximate |
Distance from Summerside |
Approximate |
in Kilometers |
in Miles |
Driving Time |
in Kilometers |
in Miles |
Driving Time |
Bangor |
598 km |
374 miles |
7.5 hrs. |
571 km |
357 miles |
7.1 hrs. |
Boston |
999 km |
624 miles |
12.5 hrs. |
972 km |
608 miles |
12.2 hrs. |
Halifax |
227 km |
142 miles |
2.8 hrs. |
288 km |
180 miles |
3.6 hrs. |
Montreal |
1199 km |
749 miles |
15.0 hrs. |
1172 km |
733 miles |
14.7 hrs. |
New York City |
1353 km |
846 miles |
16.9 hrs. |
1326 km |
829 miles |
16.6 hrs. |
Ottawa |
1389 km |
868 miles |
17.4 hrs. |
1362 km |
851 miles |
17.0 hrs. |
Toronto |
1738 km |
1086 miles |
21.7 hrs. |
1711 km |
1069 miles |
21.4 hrs. |
|
