Like all infrastructure, bridges and structures require ongoing maintenance. Regular inspections help the City ensure that its bridges and structures are well maintained and are in a state of good repair.
The Bridge & Structure Condition Map provides information on bridges and structures managed by the City of Toronto, the Province of Ontario-Ministry of Transportation (MTO), Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and Metrolinx (MX). The dataset is limited to the City of Toronto geographical boundary.
The structures included on this map are bridges with a span of three metres or more, culverts with an opening of three metres or more and the elevated section of the F.G. Gardiner Expressway.
Information is updated annually after each inspection cycle every two years. By clicking a bridge or structure location on the map, you are able to obtain information about the bridge or structure including the location, usage, age, year of last inspection, inspection results, next inspection year and image of the bridge or structure. Bridges or structures that are not identified on the map are likely managed by other parties than the ones listed above.
The map also includes locations of some privately managed bridges, Canadian National Railway (CNR) bridges and Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) bridges.
MTO, TTC, MX, CNR, CPR and private owners follow their own inspection routines to maintain their bridges in a state of good repair. Information on those bridges and structures is provided by their owners and has not been verified for its currency, completeness or accuracy.
Bridges and structures managed by the City and MTO undergo routine inspection every two years.
The City uses two rating systems to assess the condition and state of repair of bridges and structures – Bridge Condition Index (BCI) and Condition Rating (CR).
To calculate the BCI rating, the current dollar value of the bridge or structure is compared to the value of when it was brand new or in ‘excellent’ condition. The replacement value is based on the cost to reconstruct a new bridge or structure.
Pedestrian bridges and structures in City parks undergo general inspections on a regular basis and detailed assessments every two years. Based on the results of these inspections, each Parks’ pedestrian bridge or structure is given an overall rating based on its Condition Rating (CR).
The BCI or CR does not directly indicate if a bridge or structure is safe; rather it indicates the general state of repair or condition of a bridge or structure.
Routine inspections help staff collect information about a bridge or structure and highlights areas requiring maintenance or further investigation.
Public safety is paramount to the City. If an inspection indicates a bridge or structure is a safety risk, staff will take appropriate measures to address the concern and if necessary close the bridge or structure until necessary repairs can be completed.
Criteria used to generate bridges and structures overall ratings as Good, Fair or Poor based on BCI or CR are illustrated in the table below.
| Rating | Index | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Good |
BCI: 70 -100 |
For a bridge or structure with a BCI 70 or greater (up to 100), maintenance work is not usually required within the next five years. |
|
CR: 0.0 – 0.3 |
For a PF&R pedestrian bridge or structure with a CR 0.0 or greater and less than 0.4, major maintenance work is not usually required within the next ten years. | |
|
Fair |
BCI: 60 – 69 |
For a bridge or structure with a BCI 60 or greater and less than 70, the maintenance work is usually scheduled within the next five years. This is the ideal time to schedule major bridge or structure repairs from an economic perspective. |
|
CR: 0.4 – 0.7 |
For a PF&R pedestrian bridge or structure with a CR 0.4 or greater and less than 0.8, major maintenance work is usually scheduled within the next five years. | |
| Poor |
BCI: 0 – 59 |
For a bridge or structure with a BCI rating of less than 60, maintenance work is usually scheduled within approximately one year. A poor rating does not necessarily mean the bridge or structure is unsafe or unsuitable for use. It may mean that repairs are needed to improve its rating to Fair or Good. |
|
CR: 0.8 or Greater |
For a PF&R pedestrian bridge or structure with a CR 0.8 or greater, maintenance work is usually scheduled within the short term. A poor rating does not necessarily mean the parks’ pedestrian bridge or structure is unsafe or unsuitable for use. It may mean that repairs are needed to improve its rating to Fair or Good. | |
| Immediate action will be taken to address any safety concerns on all bridges and structures. | ||
The City has plans to work on a number of bridges in the coming years. Learn about planned capital repairs by visiting T.O. INview.
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) performs routine inspections of their bridges, some of which are in Toronto. Details of MTO program can be found by visiting Ontario Bridge Repairs and Inspections Information.