Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer
The federal government has awarded a $32-million contract to Dexter Construction to replace the movable transfer bridge at the Souris ferry terminal on Prince Edward Island.
The Bedford, N.S.-based company was selected following a competitive procurement process. The request for proposals was issued in April, with the contract awarded in July.
Design work on the new movable transfer bridge is to begin immediately, with construction expected to start later this year. The replacement is expected to be completed by summer 2028.
A transfer bridge connects a ferry to the terminal, allowing passengers and vehicles to safely board and disembark. A fixed transfer bridge has been built at Souris to allow ferry operations to continue while the new movable bridge is constructed.
The Souris terminal is the Prince Edward Island connection for the year-round ferry service to Cap-aux-Meules, Que. The service is the main transportation link to the remote Magdalen Islands, carrying about 135,000 passengers and nearly 59,000 vehicles annually.
“The ferry terminal is a crucial link for people and businesses in the region, connecting them to their communities, jobs, and markets,” said Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon. “By replacing the transfer bridge, we’re investing in the infrastructure needed to keep this service safe and reliable for years to come.”
The project is being funded through the federal Ferry Services Contribution Program, which supports three interprovincial ferry services considered essential to regional mobility and the economy in Atlantic Canada and Eastern Quebec.
Between 2022-23 and 2025-26, the services carried an annual average of about 574,000 passengers, 216,000 passenger vehicles and 19,500 commercial vehicles.
“The two unloading ramps in Souris are an important asset for the reliability of the essential ferry service,” said Emmanuel Aucoin, general manager of CTMA, which operates the Souris-Cap-aux-Meules service.
