Bridges and overpasses average age increased every year but one since 1982 in Nova Scotia. Although the average age of this asset has been increasing both nationally and provincially, the increase has been substantially larger in Nova Scotia in recent years due to low investment rates. It grew from 19.5 years in 1990 to 24.2 in 2001. Afterwards, the ageing process accelerated, causing the average age of bridges and overpasses to climb to 28.6 years in 2007, second oldest after Quebec.
Bridges and overpasses were the third most important public asset in Nova Scotia, accounting for 10% of its public infrastructure stock. As a percentage of estimated useful life, the rates in both the province and nationally were about the same at the turn of the millennium. By 2007, Nova Scotia's figure rose to 66% compared to 57% nationally.