Calgary sidewalk repair backlog hits $246 million, city recommends $37M annual funding
A report to council shows the city's concrete network is deteriorating faster than repairs can keep pace. Current funding averages $5 million yearly.
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Calgary's 6,245-kilometre sidewalk network faces a $246 million repair backlog, and that gap will only widen if current funding levels hold, according to a report being presented to council's infrastructure and planning committee next Wednesday.
The city has averaged $5 million annually in sidewalk repair spending since 2019. The administration is recommending $37 million per year for the 2027–2030 budget cycle to reverse the trend. Without that increase, the backlog is projected to balloon to $265 million by 2036.
The concrete asset picture is stark. Of the city's approximately 6,245 kilometres of sidewalk, currently 67 per cent are in good condition, 31 per cent in fair condition, and 2 per cent in poor condition. At current funding levels, that breakdown shifts dramatically by 2036: good condition drops to 48 per cent—a 19 percentage point decline.
The city inspects and rates approximately 6,245 kilometres of sidewalk every two years. Causes of deterioration include freeze-thaw cycles (common in Calgary's climate), moisture infiltration, poor drainage, deicing salts, heavy vehicle loading, temperature fluctuations, settling, expansion and contraction, and tree root growth. The designed service life of concrete assets is up to 50 years, but empirically they typically last 20 to 40 years.
Since 2010, the sidewalk network has grown by approximately 1,115 kilometres—an average of 76 kilometres per year. The city also maintains 7,044 kilometres of curb and gutter, growing at an average rate of 86 kilometres per year. Curb and gutter conditions are generally better: 79.3 per cent good, 20.2 per cent fair, 0.5 per cent poor.
Council will deliberate the 2027–2030 budget in November. The proposed spending plan will be released publicly in early November. As HighOnCity reported in May, the city fast-tracked a repair push for tree-damaged sidewalks; in August, Eighth Street revitalization entered the next phase with sidewalk work continuing through September.
If council rejects the $37M annual recommendation in November's budget vote, how quickly will the backlog grow and which neighborhoods face the worst conditions?
What specific criteria determine which sidewalks are prioritized for repair when funding is limited?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
How much money does Calgary need to spend annually on sidewalk repairs?
Calgary's administration is recommending $37 million per year for the 2027–2030 budget cycle to address the sidewalk repair backlog.
What is Calgary's current sidewalk repair backlog?
Calgary faces a $246 million repair backlog across its 6,245-kilometre sidewalk network.
How much has Calgary been spending on sidewalk repairs recently?
Calgary has averaged $5 million annually in sidewalk repair spending since 2019.
