Details released on the state of Canadian Infrastructure: roads, bridges, tunnels

Statistics Canada has published the first results of Canada’s Core Public Infrastructure Survey, this first release focuses on roads, bridges and tunnels.

Sponsored by Infrastructure Canada, the survey results will provide data to support all levels of government and policy makers in monitoring the condition of Canada’s core public infrastructure, with the intent of improving their management and lifespan, and developing future infrastructure projects. Data for the survey are based on responses from approximately 1,500 government organizations in 2016 selected from Statistics Canada’s Business Register, the central repository of information on public and private organizations operating in Canada.

Of note: there were 47,279 publicly-owned bridges in 2016, 43.9% of which were on local roads, 24.6% on highways and expressways, and 26.0% on arterial and collector roads combined. Almost one-third (30.7%) of all bridges in Canada were in Ontario, while 21.5% were in Alberta and 17.1% were in Quebec. About one-fifth of bridges have been built since 2000.

(Statistics Canada)

Building on this first release, statistical information on national infrastructure assets will be released throughout the fall of 2018 and will provide baselines for comparing assets over time.

The data will examine the inventory, condition, performance and asset management strategy of nine core public infrastructure assets:

• roads;
• bridges and tunnels;
• potable water;
• waste water;
• storm water;
• public transit;
• solid waste;
• culture, recreation and sports facilities;
• and public social and affordable housing.

Statistics Canada is working with Infrastructure Canada to explore the possibility of producing this survey on a recurring basis to develop a broader overview of Canada’s public infrastructures over time.