PEIA new provincial assessment says the causeway leading into Victoria, P.E.I., could be at risk from rising sea levels and coastal erosion in the 2080s — more than 55 years from now.Residents urge faster action as shoreline near the road continues to erodeJenna Banfield · CBC News · Posted: Nov 19, 2025 8:14 AM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.The provincial government held a public information session last week to discuss an assessment showing the Victoria causeway could face erosion impacts within the next 55 years. (Ken Linton/CBC)A new provincial assessment says the causeway leading into Victoria, P.E.I., could be at risk from rising sea levels and coastal erosion in the 2080s — more than 55 years from now.Last week, the P.E.I. government held a meeting with residents and local stakeholders to share the findings.While the analysis notes the causeway is not under immediate threat, it found that two provincially owned properties near the structure are losing about two to three feet of shoreline each year.The assessment also noted that “hard armouring” — placing rocks or other protective structures along the shoreline — would be the most effective way to mitigate land erosion in the area.Mayor of Victoria Martin Reuben said he expressed concerns to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure early last year on whether the properties along the road are going to be subject to future issues.Victoria Mayor Martin Reuben says the province needs to treat the erosion issue with greater urgency, noting that residents want mitigation work to begin sooner rather than later. (Sheehan Desjardins/CBC News)But he worries the province is not moving quickly enough.”We’re very concerned about that… projection,” Reuben said. “It sounded like the province may not be prepared to act too quickly on any kind of coastline mitigation… until much later.”We should be trying to protect as much of the land between the sea and the road as possible and that would mean, you know, not waiting.”He added that residents shared similar worries and want to see work begin sooner rather than later.”We really don’t want to be waiting until you know, the sea is looking up against the road to be taking action,” Reuben said.In a statement to CBC News, the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure described the Victoria causeway as “critical provincial infrastructure.”The department said that while no decision has been made on the work, that does not mean action won’t be taken. It added that the province wants community perspectives to help guide any next steps.CorrectionsA previous version of this story stated that the causeway into Victoria had 80 years before it would be at risk from erosion. The province later clarified that the causeway could be at risk in the 2080s — more than 55 years from now.Nov 19, 2025 9:15 AM ESTABOUT THE AUTHORJenna Banfield is an associate producer for CBC Prince Edward Island. She can be reached at jenna.banfield@cbc.caWith files from Jackie Sharkey
Causeway into Victoria, P.E.I., has 55 years before erosion threat, provincial analysis finds
