Roads and Traffic

How potholes form

With the shift from winter snow plowing to snow melting, conditions are perfect for potholes to form in the spring.

Moisture seeps into the pavement and sub-base, freezes, expands, and then thaws.

The ‘freeze, thaw' cycle weakens the pavement.

Traffic loosens the pavement even more.

Pavement crumbles and pops out.

Potholes can develop on a daily basis when temperatures begin to hover around zero degrees.

Fixing a pothole

Depending on where the pothole is located, it may take some time to fix it. Repairs are addressed on both a priority and scheduling basis. On average, we fill most potholes within a 12 to 48 hour period.

Pothole hazards are rated on the following criteria:

• location (driving lane, curb lane);
• class of street; and
• degree of hazard for drivers.

If a pothole is located on a main road or priority route, it will be repaired quicker than others on a residential street or secondary road.

Tips to avoid tire and vehicle damage

• be alert
• be cautious
• slow down
• try to avoid puddles
• after dark, keep headlights clean to spot potholes easily
• keep tires properly inflated
• brake lightly to avoid dropping into a pothole
• try to avoid areas where pot holes normally form

If there is damage to your vehicle from hitting pothole, contact your insurance company and ask them how to proceed.

In the majority of cases, the City will not accept liability for damages caused by hitting potholes. We believe we are exceeding the provincial minimum maintenance standards. If you feel the damages to your vehicle are the result of negligence on the part of the City, contact the Risk Management and Loss Prevention Officer.