Edmonton's Arterial Road Repairs Face Budget Axe in 2026
Edmonton drivers who have grown accustomed to navigating summer construction zones may encounter fewer disruptions in 2026, but for concerning reasons. City administration has revealed that the proposed 2026 budget contains no funding for arterial road repairs, despite at least 10 kilometers of crucial roadways requiring immediate attention.
Budget Constraints Force Tough Choices
A report attached to the fall budget presents three funding options for arterial road renewal in 2026, but includes the stark warning that insufficient money exists for any of them. The options include $5 million to repair 9.8 kilometres of road, $7.5 million for 15.4 km, or $10 million for 18.5 km of repairs.
Mayor Andrew Knack indicated there's little appetite to revise the budget to cover this shortfall, noting that council has consistently increased road repair funding in recent years. "Realistically, that's more of an issue to likely rectify going into the next four-year cycle," Knack stated on Tuesday. "This four-year budget cycle has a greater per-year investment of roads than we've ever had in our city's history."
Priority Roads Identified for Repair
The city has identified several arterial roads as highest priority for repairs, which would extend their useful life by 10 to 15 years. The roads in most critical need include:
- Fort Road
- Callingwood Road
- 34 Avenue
- 34 Street
- 38 Avenue
- 153 Avenue
- 113 Street
- 156 Street
Despite the funding challenges, the city reports that 69 percent of arterial roads remain in good condition or better, with only 11 percent currently classified as poor condition or worse. Downtown arterial roads are excluded from this report since they receive funding through the separate Downtown Action Plan.
Long-Term Decline in Road Maintenance
The report highlights a concerning trend of reduced roadway maintenance over recent budget cycles. Between 2015 and 2018, the city repaired 222 km of roadway, but this dropped to 115 km between 2019 and 2022. The current 2023-2026 budget cycle shows a more dramatic decline to just 46 km of repairs. The report directly links this reduced maintenance to increasing pothole frequency throughout the city.
Covering the arterial road repair shortfall under the current proposed budget would require the city to run a deficit, a solution council appears reluctant to pursue during the final year of the four-year budget cycle.
