Three Times As Many Potholes In Toronto This Year
Posted December 30, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The only way ’round is through, goes the popular saying when faced with a problem.
But for Toronto drivers, the only way around is to go right over them – potholes, that is.
The wheel-rattling craters are once again making their appearance known, spurred by rapid changes in the weather.
Fluctuating conditions put extra strain on the asphalt, widening already existing potholes and making mountains out of what were once molehills.
We usually see a spike in March or April, not December. But the unseasonable cold followed by the warm spell earlier this month means drivers have more than snow and ice to worry about.
In fact, work crews from the City of Toronto have repaired three times as many holes this season compared to the same time last year.
“We’re also still dealing with some snow activities,” admitted Myles Curie, the city’s director of transportation.
“So we’ll be moving from snow activities to pothole repair as we have the same crews doing road repair as with winter services.”
This week alone, 80 workers will fill in 2000 of the divots (pictured).
If there’s one on your street, call the city hotline: 416- 599-9090 (#164). They’re promising to fix the problem within seven days.
‘Pure Evil:’ Your Reaction To Pesky Potholes
We’re also looking for your pictures of any particularly frustrating tears in the concrete, which you can submit here.
How to get compensated for damage caused by a pothole
How to report a pothole to the city
Potholes By The Numbers
Avg. number fixed per year: 55,000
Avg. fixed in a month: 500-1,000
Pothole repair staff: about 100
Annual city pothole repair budget: $2.5-3 million
Total number of roads in Toronto: 9,500
Total kilometres: About 5,200
How long does a pothole patch last?: About 5 years plus.
