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Preamble:
WHEREAS the Province of Alberta appears to be the only jurisdiction in Canada that defines a 1500-3000mm culvert as a bridge structure; and
WHEREAS most Canadian jurisdictions define a bridge structure as having a span of 3000mm; and
WHEREAS the cost of replacement of a bridge structure is significantly more costly than the replacement of a culvert
Operative Clause:
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) request that the Government of Alberta review and change its definition of a bridge to match the national practice of a culvert spanning 3000mm as a bridge structure.
FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) investigate cost effective bridge replacement and maintenance options for Municipalities.
Member Background:
The Municipal District of Bonnyville (MD) is situated in Northeast Alberta, with a population of approximately 12,900 residents. The region hosts the second largest oil sands deposits in Alberta, contributing significantly to its economic landscape. It is also home to the 4 Wing Cold Lake military base and encompasses the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range, further enhancing its strategic significance. In addition to its economic and strategic value, the M.D. boasts a robust recreational base, featuring numerous beautiful lakes and campgrounds that attract visitors and support local tourism.
The MD is currently facing significant challenges concerning the renewal of its bridge infrastructure, as numerous bridges are nearing the end of their life cycles. This situation poses a critical challenge in ensuring the sustainability of our infrastructure in a manner that remains financially manageable for our constituents. We are projecting replacement costs to reach tens of millions of dollars in the next decade.
By treating existing non-conforming culverts as separate bridge assets, their replacement in Alberta triggers design upgrade requirements that are very costly, engineering intensive, and often require extensive road reconstruction work to accommodate. It is not uncommon that a culvert that would normally cost our internal maintenance crews $75,000 for replacement “as-built” to cost $300,000 to $400,000 once the required engineering and upgrade costs of a bridge replacement are considered. It is also very common that the road itself needs to be humped over the upgraded culvert to accommodate its new geometry, with engineers speculating on the future design of a road upgrade not yet being considered (culverts are designed for a 50-year service life).
These required upgrading costs are not sustainable and are putting Alberta’s municipalities at risk. The MD has a population of over 12,000 and is currently responsible for inspecting and maintaining 120 local road bridge structures, many of which are approaching the end of their lifecycles. These structures are heavily used by industry, and the MD is being forced to consider closing roads due to the significant costs associated with the required bridge culvert upgrades.
A letter and comparative bridge definitions from Building Information Modeling and OSIM manuals was sent to the Honourable Minister Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors on December 22, 2025.
By treating existing non-conforming culverts as separate bridge assets, their replacement in Alberta triggers design upgrade requirements that are very costly, engineering intensive, and often require extensive road reconstruction work to accommodate. It is not uncommon that a culvert that would normally cost our internal maintenance crews $75,000 for replacement “as-built” to cost $300,000 to $400,000 once the required engineering and upgrade costs of a bridge replacement are considered. It is also very common that the road itself needs to be humped over the upgraded culvert to accommodate its new geometry, with engineers speculating on the future design of a road upgrade not being considered yet (culverts are designed for a 50-year service life).
These required costs of upgrade are not sustainable and are putting Albertas municipalities at risk. The M.D. has a population of over 12,000 and is currently responsible for inspecting and maintaining 120 local road bridge structures, many of which are approaching the end of their lifecycles. These structures are heavily used by industry, and the M.D. is being forced to consider closing roads due to the significant costs associated with the required bridge culvert upgrades.
Attached is a letter and comparative bridge definitions from BIM and OSIM manuals that was sent to the Honourable Minister Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors on December 22, 2025.
RMA Background:
1-23F: Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program Funding
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta advocate to the Government of Alberta to substantially increase the funding available for the Local Road Bridge Program stream in the Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program.
Click here to view the full resolution.
Transportation and Economic Corridors
I appreciate RMA and its members bringing forward concerns related to the provincial definition of bridge sized culverts and the associated cost and engineering implications for municipalities. As noted, jurisdictions across Canada apply different criteria when defining bridge-sized culverts, with size thresholds typically ranging from 1.2 metres to 3 metres. These thresholds are established based on regional watercourse characteristics, design and construction practices, inspection requirements, and long-term asset management considerations. Alberta currently defines a bridge-sized culvert as having a span or diameter of 1.5 metres or greater.
I understand the challenges municipalities face when replacing bridge-sized culverts, particularly where design upgrade requirements can significantly increase project costs compared to like-for-like replacements. These concerns were also raised directly by municipal partners to Transportation and Economic Corridors.
I asked officials from the department to reach out to you to establish a working committee. This committee will review the concerns identified in the resolution and explore feasible options related to bridge and culvert classification.
Thank you for taking the time to share the RMA’s perspective on this matter. I value the continued collaboration between the Government of Alberta and Alberta’s rural municipalities and look forward to the outcomes of this work.
Development:
RMA appreciates the Minister’s recognition of the significant engineering, regulatory, and financial challenges rural municipalities face in managing Alberta’s bridge and culvert infrastructure. The acknowledgement of the escalating cost implications associated with larger bridge‑sized culverts – as well as the variability of classification thresholds across Canadian jurisdictions – reflects an understanding of the pressures municipalities face undertaking essential infrastructure replacement.
RMA also welcomes the Minister’s commitment to convening a working committee with departmental staff to review the concerns raised in Resolution 2‑26S. Establishing a venue for technical dialogue is a constructive step, and RMA looks forward to participating in discussions that explore the feasibility and implications of potential classification changes.
However, the Minister’s response appears to downplay the second and equally critical component of the resolution: the need to investigate cost‑effective bridge replacement and maintenance methodologies for municipalities. This is concerning, as these methodologies likely represent impactful and actionable tools available to rural municipalities that seek to manage deteriorating bridges responsibly.
RMA’s Bridge Infrastructure Deficit Report identified a $2.29 billion cost to repair all rural bridges and culverts – an amount that has only grown as deterioration continues unabated and inflation, material costs, and regulatory requirements continue to rise. RMA’s recent Closing the Gap campaign further demonstrated that rural municipalities are facing an accelerating infrastructure deficit across all asset classes, with bridge deterioration emerging as one of the most urgent areas of concern. Despite this, the Government of Alberta has allocated only $2.8 billion over the next three years for all transportation infrastructure across the province, including both rural and urban municipalities. This level of investment is insufficient to meaningfully slow the rate of deterioration let alone close the infrastructure gap.
RMA acknowledges the Minister’s commitment to a working committee provides a potential pathway to addressing the resolution’s second operative clause. Though the Minister’s response does not directly engage with cost‑effective bridge replacement and maintenance, the stated willingness to collaborate through a committee process indicates a commitment to further examination of the issue – a partial progress. On this basis, the resolution is assigned the status of Accepted in Principle, with the caveat that meaningful details, actions, and outcomes emerge in the coming months from advancing committee work as promised by the Ministry.
Rural municipalities cannot sustain the growing infrastructure deficit alone. Addressing this challenge requires partnership, adequate funding, and a willingness to consider new approaches. RMA remains ready to work collaboratively with the Government of Alberta to advance both components of Resolution 2‑26S, and looks forward to continued dialogue and urges the Government of Alberta to fully engage with the solutions proposed by rural municipalities to ensure Alberta’s bridge network remains safe, functional, and economically viable for decades to come.
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