Canadian infrastructure could be in danger, reports suggest

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OTTAWA, Ont. — In the wake of a tragic bridge collapse in Minneapolis last night, alarms are being sounded about the condition of Canadas infrastructure.

A 2006 Statistics Canada report suggests Canadian bridges have reached 49% of their useful life. Roads and highways have reached 59% of their useful life according to the same report.

Saeed Mirza, a professor of civil engineering with McGill University, told CanWest News Service that If we do not maintain our infrastructure, do not upgrade it, well continue to have spectacular collapses.

Currently, 135 Quebec bridges are off limits to overweight trucks, following a deadly overpass collapse last year.

A study conducted by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has predicted Canada must spend $100 billion on upgrading roads, bridges and sewer plants. However, last year the feds budgeted only $16.5 billion towards infrastructure to be spent over the next four years.

– With files from the National Post

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