Toronto’s pothole blitz continues
Posted March 11, 2013 1:44 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Toronto crews have filled in more than 24,000 potholes after a weeklong blitz and the citywide repairs are still ongoing.
“At this time of year, it’s a perfect time for our crews to get a jump on tackling potholes to make our roads safer and more comfortable for everyone,” Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong said in statement Monday. Minnan-Wong is the chair of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee.
More than 100 staff in 40 crews will continue the repairs, weather permitting, throughout the month of March.
The City of Toronto has repaired an average of 200,000 potholes a year over the past three years. The city spends about $4 million a year to fix potholes.
Toronto city officials say the number of potholes on city roads has increased this year due to a severe freeze-thaw cycle.
“Our information seems to indicate our pothole count has increased over last year and we seem to be tracking similar to what we were tracking in 2011 where it was more of a typical winter,” Toronto’s director of transportation services Peter Noehammer told CityNews last week.
The rapid switch from mild to freezing temperatures increases the possibility of potholes as water that penetrates the asphalt expands when it freezes and then leaves a void when it melts, causing structural weaknesses.
If you see a pothole, call 311 to report it to the city. Complaints can also be made using the city’s Open 311 app. Click here to see it. Here are some tips to help crews tackle the problem:
• Provide the precise location of the pothole (nearest cross streets, street address if possible).
• Provide the exact location within the roadway where the pothole is located.
• Estimate the size of the pothole.
Where are the worst potholes? Let us know in the comments.
