Metro Vancouver drivers dodge potholes popping up after extreme weather
Posted January 13, 2022 6:42 am.
Last Updated January 13, 2022 6:51 pm.
The last month of extreme weather has not been kind to drivers, and now the impacts of the snow, cold, and heavy rain are forcing more problems on the roads and highways due to huge potholes popping up on Metro Vancouver streets and highways.
While some drivers have been able to dodge them, others aren’t so lucky, and some of those tooth-rattling impacts can have quite the impact on your vehicle.
ICBC says pothole claims are covered under optional collision coverage which “covers your repair costs when you hit another vehicle, object or the surface of the road, including potholes – regardless of fault.”
Weather conditions have been damaging to roads. Potholes are patched temporarily until warmer and drier weather allows permanent repairs. Use extra caution & slow down. To report a pothole, call Operations at 604-469-4574 or fill out a form online https://t.co/tN1gWpxulS pic.twitter.com/he59CjzSgF
— City of Port Moody (@CityofPoMo) January 11, 2022
In an email to CityNews, the provincial insurer says, “ICBC collision claims may impact a customer’s insurance premium if costs can’t be recovered from another liable party. The premium impact would vary from driver to driver based on how long they’ve been driving and how many chargeable claims they’ve made.”
New Westminster Kal Tire store manager Barrie De Boer says they have seen an increase in pothole-related damage in the last week with blown tires and bent or cracked rims.
He says sometimes it’s an easy fix but hitting a pothole could impact the alignment of the vehicle, which will require a visit to a professional.
Continue to watch out for potholes this morning, the @CityofVancouver has a site and app where you can report them. #Vancouver #Potholes https://t.co/kPHBKr2ov3 pic.twitter.com/wIL5pQQszM
— Ryan Lidemark ???? ????️ (@RyanLmark) January 13, 2022
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“It’s better to be safe than sorry,” he said.
But the repairs don’t come cheap.
“An alignment – if it needs it can be $125 dollars. But a wheel repair can varydepending on what kind of rim it is, if it’s a straightening, you could be looking at the low $200. And the tire, depending on what tire it is, can be between $100 and $500 for a tire,” De Boer says.
“ICBC sometimes might be worth it. They do prorate their tires so…sometimes your deductible can be more money than the covering of the cost,” De Boer added.
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastruture has notified that the Southbound lane of the Mission bridge will be closed until 4pm today for pothole repair. Please use caution and reduce speeds in workzones. For the latest up to date information follow @DriveBC pic.twitter.com/ef9mukaCWa
— City of Mission (@Mission_BC) January 12, 2022
He says some people may also have a vehicle under warranty from the dealership and urges drivers to check to see if that might cover the repair costs.
Mainroad Contracting general manager Darren Ell says the weather is behind the proliferation of potholes.
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He says they are working to keep up as maintenance teams are putting in a lot of temporary fixes along the local highways and bridges.
“The asphalt is popping up a little bit and creating these potholes unfortunately with the rain we’ve been having we’ve only been able to use cold mix products. We are having to go back and continue to improve…and add cold mix into these potholes because it’s not holding as expected,” he said.
The recent weather events have created a large number of potholes throughout the city. Two patch trucks are out working full time on repairs. Please report potholes to our Operations Department at operations@chilliwack.com or 604.793.2810. pic.twitter.com/fLc8G2WFDN
— City of Chilliwack (@City_Chilliwack) January 12, 2022
He says what we really need is a dry day so that crews can do more permanent fixes.
Ell says with the last four weeks of severe weather has created more issues because the sub surface had frozen, and now with weather warming up, it’s cracking the road.
“Yes, we are probably seeing more asphalt failing and more potholes appearing and that’s because of the weather leading up to this period,” Ell said.
While it’s a rush to keep up with all the repairs, there’s another motivator for road crews.
SHOWING POTHOLES WHO'S BOSS????????
Mainroad crews are out on the roads making them safer for the travelling public by repairing potholes with @EZSTREETASPHALT!
Please drive with caution, slow down and watch for crews working roadside ~ thx for the brake!???????? #ConeZoneBC pic.twitter.com/u59gN9z4d8
— Mainroad Lower Mainland Contracting (@MainroadLM) January 12, 2022
An email from ICBC says, “”If negligence can be proven against the party responsible for road maintenance – for instance, there was an unreasonable delay in taking action after the pothole was reported – ICBC may be able to recover the cost of the claim and if so, it would not impact a customer’s premium.”
With files from Robyn Crawford
