Confederation Bridge by the Numbers: 29 Years of Traffic & Economic Impact
Since opening May 31, 1997, the Confederation Bridge has transformed PEI. Here is 29 years of data on traffic, economic impact, and weather closures.
Traffic: 40.69 Million Vehicles
| Year | Vehicles | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 756,000 | Partial year (June-Dec) |
| 1998 | 1,253,000 | First full year |
| 2010 | 1,412,000 | |
| 2017 | 1,589,000 | Canada 150 |
| 2019 | 1,645,000 | Pre-COVID record |
| 2020 | 987,000 | COVID: -40% |
| 2023 | 1,598,000 | Recovery |
| 2025 | 1,660,000 | Latest |
Economic Impact on PEI
- Tourism surge: +71.9% visitors in first full year
- Revenue boost: +80.9% ($188M to $340M)
- Population growth: +30.7% since bridge opened
- Tourism as % of GDP: 6.9%
- Crossing time: 75 min (ferry) to 12 min = 84% reduction
Weather Closures
Bridge closes at 70+ km/h sustained winds. Average: 17.3 closure days/year.
- Best months: July-August (0.54% closure risk)
- Worst months: December-January (9.0% risk)
- Longest closure: 36 hours during Hurricane Fiona (Sept 2022)
Data: Transport Canada, Environment Canada, PEI Statistics Bureau. Updated March 2026.