Recent speculation that the decrepit Disraeli Bridge would be closed for a prolonged period of time has people questioning why so many Winnipeg bridges are in a state of such disrepair.

While Mayor Sam Katz and Premier Gary Doer have indicated the bridge will not close but will undergo either a revamp or a complete redo, the prospect of yet another bridge construction undertaking has left some exasperated at the state of our infrastructure.

“If the Disraeli were to be shut down, it would have been huge,” says Shelia Fortier, who uses the bridge to and from work each day to commute from her home in North Kildonan to CanWest headquarters downtown.

Fortier finds the prospect of construction on the bridge aggravating, but said she believes it is also necessary. She said more lanes should be added.

“Since September the congestion in the mornings is much worse. It’s added an extra 25 minutes to my morning drive.”

The Disraeli Bridge is the latest in a string of reconstruction projects around Manitoba. In August, there was the buckling of a bridge in St. Adolphe. It will need to be repaired now that it is stabilized. Also, the province announced $33.4 million for infrastructure upgrades in Brandon.

Manitoba is not alone in its seemingly endless bridge construction binge.

“ [Bridges] are getting close to the end of their lifespan so they require a fair amount of work. It’s something that is occurring all over North America.

Andy Pankratz, bridge designer

“The construction that is going on now is occurring primarily due to the age of the infrastructure,” said Andy Pankratz, a bridge designer for the province. “Most bridges here were made during the big boom in the 1950s and ‘60s. They are getting close to the end of their lifespan so they require a fair amount of work. It’s something that is occurring all over North America.”

Pankratz said there was an awareness of this issue 20 years ago, but nothing was done. Now, the province is forced to play catch-up as once sound structures crumble.

“It’s just like a house. You have to do maintenance on it. Infrastructure is the same way. You can’t leave it for 50 years and expect it to last,” said Norm Ulyatt of Dillon Consulting. Ulyatt said there could have been more investment on rehabilitating existing bridges in the past.

Whether the Disraeli will be heading to rehab or be made entirely anew will depend on economics and longevity.

“It all comes down to life cycle cost,” said Pankratz. “You basically look at value of structure right now and what the cost is to rehabilitate it.”

Premier Doer has said the province aims for the new Disraeli to last for 75 years, which Pankratz said is standard for new bridges.