TORONTO — Ontario needs to spend about $2 billion to repair more than a handful of the province’s aging bridges, according to a study commissioned by the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario.

According to a Canadian Press report, the study — to be released today — examined the state of Ontario’s 12,000 municipal bridges. It found that no provincial agency is responsible for ensuring the bridges are inspected regularly, let alone properly maintained.

There is “no assurance that municipal bridges in Ontario are safe,” said the study, prepared by MMM Group.

The study concludes that many of the bridges are 50 years-old and reaching the end of their useful lifespan.

Ontario used to keep records about the state of all bridges but stopped the practice in the mid ’90s.

Transportation Ministry spokesman Bob Nichols told CP that the ministry has a copy of the report and is still reviewing the recommendations.

Bridge safety issues have made for several headlines over the last year. Last fall, five people were killed when a bridge collapsed in Laval, Que.; another 13 people lost their lives last August when a major highway bridge fell into the Mississippi River in Minnesota.

A few weeks ago, a smaller bridge in Lucknow, Ont. collapsed, injuring six construction workers.

— with files from Canadian Press