Confederation Bridge wins place among top infrastructure projects

Canada’s Confederation Bridge, the world’s longest bridge built over ice-covered waters, has been named one of the top 10 North American infrastructure projects of the past 75 years by the California-based International Right of Way Association.

International Right of Way Association

Known as the “Fixed Link,” the curved 12.9-kilometre bridge uses a multi-span, concrete box girder structure. The design was produced by a consortium headed by a joint venture of Edmonton-headquartered Stantec and J. Mueller International.

Constructed by Strait Crossing Inc. at a cost of $1 billion, the bridge opened to traffic in the spring of 1997. Linking New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, the bridge is widely considered one of Canada’s top engineering achievements of the 20th century.

The bridge was the sole Canadian project to make the top 10 list, which includes the likes of the Hoover Dam, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and the 800-mile Trans Alaska pipeline.

Stantec, which provides services out of more than 130 locations in North America, also played a key role in the city of Phoenix’s light-rail project, another project which made the cut.

“Today, as we are turning our attention to the crucial impact of infrastructure on improving the quality of life and the economic health of our communities, Stantec is honoured to have been involved with two of the top 10 projects,” said president and CEO Tony Franceschini.

“In very different ways, the Confederation Bridge and the light-rail system brought together forward-thinking leaders and a host of talented design and construction professionals to make lasting contributions to North America.”

In recognition of its 75th anniversary, IRWA asked its members to nominate North American infrastructure projects that have had the greatest impact on quality of life. In all, 130 projects were nominated. Members then cast their votes for the top 10.

“While some of these projects are known around the world, the majority are less visible and far from glamorous,” said IRWA past-president, Jim Struble. “So, it’s important to realize that those who voted actually understand and appreciate these projects on two levels; one, the massive undertaking that was required and two, the massive impact each has had on improving our everyday lives.”

IRWA was founded in 1934, when the U.S. economy was in the midst of the Great Depression. Infrastructure projects were created through President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, leading to a need for an organized association of right of way professionals.

Throughout the year, IRWA will be celebrating it 75th anniversary by shedding light on the impact of right of way projects past, present and future. The association has almost 10,000 members in Canada and the U.S., including engineers, property managers and surveyors.