Calgary Infrastructure: Roads Account for Over Half of City's Crumbling Assets

CALGARY, AB — More than half of Calgary's crumbling infrastructure is literally beneath your tires. Ward 12 Councillor Mike Jamieson dropped the number at this week's Infrastructure & Planning Committee: 51.2% of the city's failing assets are roads and pavement.

The reveal comes as approximately $18 billion worth of Calgary's infrastructure sits in poor or very poor condition. Do the math: that's roughly $9.2 billion in deteriorating roadway.

The May Reckoning

City Council will see the 2026 Corporate Asset Management Plan in May — a framework that shapes the next decade of capital investment. Jamieson, who voted against the 2026 budget last December, made clear his priorities haven't shifted.

"Ward 12, you already knew that," he posted, acknowledging what residents feel every pothole season.

The Funding Gap Persists

Calgary's infrastructure deficit clocked in at over $7 billion as of December 2025. The city's capital infrastructure risk rating hit "extensive" — the highest possible level — in late 2025.

Current road spending averages $47.8 million annually. To reach the Canadian municipal standard of 60% of roads in good condition, the city needs $132 million per year. That's an $80 million shortfall, year after year.

City officials pegged the total annual need at $5 billion to address all poor infrastructure and maintain existing systems. The 2026 budget allocated $201 million for infrastructure improvements including roads, intersections, and streetlighting — a fraction of the identified need.

What Happens Next

The May presentation will outline strategies to tackle the backlog. Meanwhile, Calgary's road network — valued at $15 billion across 17,000 lane kilometers — continues deteriorating at 3.2% annually under current funding levels.

Jamieson's public callout puts pressure on a process already years behind. Ward 12 residents, and everyone navigating Calgary's arterials, are watching.