Sidewalk Maintenance
Sidewalks are an essential part of public infrastructure that support safe, accessible, and connected communities. Deteriorating sidewalks create trip hazards and accessibility barriers for people of all ages and abilities. Feedback from Calgarians indicates that 80% believe that sidewalk quality is important in their daily life. Currently our City-wide sidewalk concrete condition is categorized as 67% being in a good state, 31% being in a fair state, and 2% being in poor condition. Calgary has 6245 kilometers of sidewalk which is the length between Calgary to Quebec City 2 times. Our current safety hazard backlog is the millions which impacts the daily user experience and sidewalk accessibility. Due to our harsh weather in Calgary, sidewalk cracks occur with frost. When snow melts, water gets into concrete. Then, Calgary’s freeze/thaw cycle makes the water expand and contract. This makes our weather particularly harsh on our sidewalk infrastructure here in Calgary compared to more temperate cities.
City workers inspect sidewalks, curbs, and gutters every two years. The severity and concentration of the defects is assessed and converted into a Concrete Condition Index (CCI). The index helps us to prioritize repairs to ensure safety risks are addressed first. Preventative maintenance is always the most cost-effective method to extend infrastructure life. It often saves us money, to the tune of five to seven times the amount it would cost when maintenance is delayed.
The average capital budget has been 5 million for sidewalks since 2019. Since that time, Calgary has grown by over 350,000 people, and developments in the inner City, as well as on the edges of the City, have increased. Construction loading on sidewalks also bears down on concrete, increasing the likelihood of cracks. Sidewalk conditions are affected when new developments require cuts to be made in the sidewalk for utility tie-ins.
Increased investment in our city sidewalk budget would improve safety, accessibility, drainage performance, asset conditions, and long-term value for taxpayers (saving you money over time). If Council maintains the current funding levels, Calgarians will experience a lower level of service. Future rehabilitation costs would also increase.
You may see an increase in the ask for sidewalk maintenance coming to City Council this fall during budget deliberations. We hope this helps you understand why Councillor Atkinson would support a budget increase that is fiscally responsible, knowing good sidewalk conditions make a difference to every Calgarian.
If you see a sidewalk in need of repair in your neighbourhood, contact 311 by calling 311, going online, or downloading the 311 app.