The Samuel-de-Champlain Bridge and the REM have captured our attention, generating overwhelming enthusiasm. New things always attract attention, but it is time that we take an interest in these less visible infrastructures, those that have been in place for decades and that ensure the smooth running of our daily lives.
Too often, we—citizens, cities, governments—take them for granted, relegating them to the background of our concerns with a dangerous dose of magical thinking. Recent incidents, such as the burst pipe near the Jacques Cartier Bridge, highlight a problem we can no longer afford to ignore. They are a symptom of a systemic problem: the accelerated aging of our vital infrastructure, which continues to worsen despite increasing investments.
The collapse of the Concorde viaduct in 2006 had already revealed the seriousness of the situation and prompted our leaders to review inspection and maintenance procedures. But these efforts, although necessary, are now proving insufficient.
In addition, climate change with extreme weather events is accelerating the obsolescence of our infrastructure since it was not designed for such events. It is clear that the time has now come for concrete and decisive action.
The well-being of our communities, the protection of our environment and the future of future generations must be placed at the heart of our strategy for managing and preserving the infrastructure that supports our society.
Invisible debt
The asset maintenance deficit represents an invisible but very real debt that we are leaving to future generations. This burden is growing at an alarming rate.
Although governments have significantly increased investments in infrastructure maintenance in recent years, this remains insufficient. According to the latest report of the Quebec Infrastructure Plan, the envelope dedicated to maintaining assets in Quebec increased from $58.5 billion to $87.6 billion from 2018 to 2024. However, nearly half of Quebec’s infrastructure still requires major investments, estimated at $37 billion. This figure, already worrying, does not even take into account the needs of municipalities, transportation companies and Hydro-Québec.
Asset management, a discipline recognized by the Institute of Asset Management and framed by international standards, is essential to structure, anticipate and plan the necessary interventions before situations degenerate into costly disasters.
This proactive approach is based on the collection and analysis of precise data, allowing interventions to be prioritized according to the potential impacts on the community and the environment. For example, a main artery in an urban environment, critical for mobility and the local economy, with a fair state of health, must attract the attention of managers and be favored over a country road in very poor condition.
Advanced digital technologies already exist—we use them—to capture real-time data, and risk assessment systems enable informed decision-making. These resources are available, and it is imperative that all levels of government use them to manage our infrastructure responsibly, intelligently, and sustainably.
However, to ensure the success of the operation, it is essential to develop asset management skills in organizations and to support these resources with the know-how of subject matter experts.
Sustainable future
There is no longer any question of waiting: concrete and decisive actions are necessary. Most of Quebec’s infrastructure, built in the 1960s and 1970s, is approaching the end of its useful life. We can no longer ignore this reality in the hope that the problems will resolve themselves.
It is essential that governments at all levels adopt data-driven asset management, supported by international best practices and tailored to local specificities.
Sustainability and responsible asset management must be at the heart of our collective approach. Infrastructure management is not a question of ideology, but of shared responsibility. Quebec has already proven that it can take bold action for a better future. It is this same determination that we must now apply to our infrastructure.