Calgary's Infrastructure Crisis: 'Almost Certain' Failure Looms

Calgary's capital infrastructure has reached a critical risk level, with a year-end report indicating an "almost certain" likelihood of failure and severe impacts. This assessment underscores the urgent necessity for the city to identify specific infrastructure components that are in poor condition or represent single points of failure within their systems.

The report reveals that 11% of Calgary's assets are categorized as poor or very poor. Contributing factors include deferred maintenance, limited investment, and the effects of climate change and severe weather, increasing the probability of service disruptions and safety concerns.

Beyond physical infrastructure, technological disruption presents an "extensive" risk. The City of Calgary recorded a rate of clicking malicious links up to 15 times higher than similar organizations between May and August 2024. Experts emphasize the need for rigorous cybersecurity analysis and testing to mitigate potential catastrophic consequences.

City council members are discussing infrastructure funding for the upcoming four-year budget cycle, prompted by these findings and recent water main breaks. They aim to gain a granular understanding of at-risk infrastructure and prioritize investments in aging neighborhoods.