Potholes are caused when moisture enters a crack in the pavement, then freezes and expands in cold temperatures. The expansion puts pressure on the crack, causing the asphalt to break away, resulting in a pothole. Vehicle traffic over the pothole can cause the edges to crumble, which increases the size. Some potholes will require repeated temporary patching until the street dries and permanent patching can be done.

Although some street damage may look like a pothole, not all roadway defects are potholes. When pavement is cut for water, sewer or utility repairs, and permanent patching isn’t possible, temporary fill is used. That temporary fill may settle during a freeze/thaw cycle, causing holes on the roadway. Crews temporarily patch settled pavement cuts and begin permanent patching of these areas after the frost is out of the ground, around mid-April.

If a pothole or pavement cut is full of water, it’s impossible for motorists to tell how deep it is. Therefore, motorists are reminded to slow down whenever they encounter a pothole or a pool of water to avoid the possibility of vehicle damage and splashing pedestrians. It is the motorist's  responsiblity to avoid driving through water-filled potholes and pavement cuts whenever possible.

Residents are encouraged to help the City locate potholes and settled roadway cuts by reporting them to Public Works Branch at 975-2476 or 975-2491. An inspector will determine the patching priority for each report and, if necessary, will place a gate or cone to warn motorists, cyclists and pedestrians of the location. Potholes or roadway cuts that are determined to be a hazard will be given immediate attention; and streets with recurring pothole problems will be evaluated for permanent resurfacing.  

Preparing for patching:

Raking the new asphalt:

Permanent patching with hot mix asphalt is completed on potholes and settled pavement cuts on dry streets following the same priority system used for snow clearing in the winter. Priority One streets include major thoroughfares such as Circle Drive; and arterial roads including Idylwyld Drive, 22nd Street and 8th Street. These high traffic roadways are patched during the night so that crews can work more quickly and safely with less traffic. Priority Two and Three streets are patched after Priority One streets are complete.

Temporary patching is done manually with a cold mix on streets that are still wet with snowmelt.

Road maintenance equipment is large and slow moving. Motorists are asked to exercise caution when passing.