Confederation Bridge to close as Acadian Congress kicks off with moonlit run

As the clock strikes midnight, this year's Acadian Congress will beginwith a moonlit run across the Confederation Bridge.

As a result of the RunUnder the Star event, the bridgewilltemporarily be closed to all traffic beginning at 11 p.m., Friday.

The bridge is scheduled to reopen at 3 a.m. Saturday, briefly, before it's closed again from 5:30-6:30 a.m. for a sunrise ceremony set to kick off this year's Acadian Congress.

While thebridge willtemporarily be closed the gathering of Acadiansfrom around the world officially begins.

Participants in the Run Under the Star eventwill either lace up for the13K runor the5K.

The 13K will begin on the New Brunswick sideof the bridge and the 5Kwill begin right on the bridge.

"It's been a long several years of planning and it's finally here," saidClaudette Thriault,chair of the organizing committee for the event.

It's been a long several years of planning and it's finally here. Claudette Thriault

The start of a big celebration

Runners will eventuallymake it to the finish line at Gateway Village in Borden-Carleton, P.E.I., and join in on somepost-run celebrations, according to a media release.

"It's quite exciting that a thousand runners from everywhere will be coming to the event, to run the bridge,"Thriault said.

Off-Island participants will be provided with a free bridge pass to make their way back to New Brunswick, the release said.

Once they've made it to the finish line, a shuttle bushasbeen arranged to take runners back to their respective start locations, the release said.The moonlit eventhas a cap of 1,000 participants and registration is now closed.

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