A bridge is a structure that carries a road, railway, or pathway over an obstacle like a river, valley, or another road. In Canada, bridge ownership and maintenance is divided among governments: municipalities maintain local bridges on municipal roads, provinces manage bridges on provincial highways, and the federal government is responsible for bridges on federal lands and major international crossings. Bridge maintenance is expensive and critical for public safety—aging bridges require regular inspections, repairs, and eventually replacement. Many Canadian municipalities face infrastructure deficits related to bridge maintenance as structures built decades ago reach the end of their design life.