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Across Canada, the realities of a changing climate are placing significant demand on public
infrastructure. Floods, heatwaves, and extreme storms are occurring with greater intensity and
frequency, and their impacts are straining the systems that connect communities and sustain the
economy. Bridges – vital links in Canada’s transportation network – are particularly exposed.
Designed historically with stationary climate assumptions, these structures now face environmental
stresses far beyond the conditions for which they were built.
For more than a century, CSA S6 – the longest-standing active CSA Group standard, first published
in 1922 – has served as the national benchmark for bridge design, offering technical foundations
for safe, durable, resilient, and reliable crossings. Regular updates of CSA S6 help ensure that its
guidance evolves alongside the technical innovation, science, and practical experience of design
professionals and bridge owners.
The 2025 edition continues this evolution with a focus on climate resilience, durability, and lifecycle
performance. It is the first bridge design code in Canada to explicitly integrate predictive climate
modelling, providing engineers with tools to design for future conditions anticipated during the
lifespan of bridges.
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