Ontario’s road and bridges are in need of significant repair—and funding.

The Ontario Good Roads Association (ORGA) has calculated that the province’s municipalities will need nearly $35 billion to sustain their roads and bridges.

The calculation, which was announced on January 11, draws on data in 443 of Ontario’s 444 municipal asset-management plans. OGRA manager of member services Dr. James Smith used Monte Carlo simulations to determine the size of municipalities’ combined infrastructure deficit.

“This really paints a stark picture of the reality municipalities are facing.” said OGRA executive director, Scott Butler. “Our roads are not only good for business, take our children to school and work, connect communities, but now during the pandemic, they are a safe gathering place for us.”

“The data behind Ontario’s $34.7-billion roads and bridge deficit is a result of data extraction of key information, engineering economic principles combined with expert knowledge, along with mathematical modeling and simulation,” said Smith. “Roads and bridges were taken into account, however other infrastructure such as trails, bike lanes and sidewalks were not calculated.”

The OGRA finding comes at a time when other associations are also calling for further assistance to municipal governments. The Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario released a video on January 14 in which it warned of significant job losses in construction if money isn’t done to prevent municipalities from cutting capital projects in an effort to balance budgets.

“This number is significant because it demonstrates the importance for quality of life and importance for business. If we look through the municipal lens, it demonstrates the value of asset management planning as $34.7 billion is the stark reality our communities are facing in road repair,” association president Rick Harms.

The OGRA has said it will look at road infrastructure and other critical topics at its annual conference on February 22 to 25.