City of Vancouver works on ‘growing number’ of pothole repairs

The season for dodging potholes has hit Vancouver, as the city says it’s working to fix a “growing number of potholes.”

Amy Sidwell with the City of Vancouver says the recent chilly temperatures, and then the flip back to warmth, has repair crews out in full force.

“Following the recent cold weather and with the warmer temperatures this week, our street operations crews are hard at work repairing a growing number of potholes across the city,” Sidwell said.

Potholes usually happen after the frosty temperatures hit, and then change again, and in light of the recent snowstorms that hit the province, its not surprising that more holes may have appeared.

“Potholes are normally formed following freezing and thawing of sub-surface water from rain or snow. What starts as a small surface crack is made larger when the water freezes, causing the small crack to expand, and when it thaws leaves behind a larger crack. The cycle is generally repeated.”

“This freeze/thaw cycle leads to a weakening of the pavement structure and combined with traffic loads leads to potholes,” the statement noted.

The city adds that more damage than a pothole can also be created, leaving some areas needing to face bigger repairs.

In a statement from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, it says there will likely be more potholes this year due because of the weather, but the ministry and City of Vancouver say contractors are out in full-force doing repairs.

“The ministry’s maintenance contractors are working to repair potholes as quickly as possible to ensure safety for drivers, and ministry staff and maintenance contractors are on the roads regularly monitoring for problems,” the ministry said.

One pothole that caused big backups earlier in the week is located on the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge.

“Repairs to the hole will involve work underneath the bridge to reinforce the bridge deck with rebar and concrete. This requires a large amount of scaffolding for workers to reach the site, and the use of pneumatic tools to prep for the repair,” the ministry explained.

It adds the bridge is safe to drive, and the hole is covered by steel plate until it can be fully fixed.

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Meanwhile, Sidwell says “keeping our roads in a state of good repair is a priority for the City.”

If your vehicle is damaged dropping into the divots, the province’s insurer said it could be covered.

According to ICBC, if a vehicle gets damaged hitting a pothole its considered a “collision claim,” and owners may have the option of getting some of the cost covered.

The city asks anyone who spots a pothole, or roads that require attention, to call 311 or submit a case online.

It adds that people are asked to take note of the size and depth of the pothole to help workers prioritize the repairs. “We will assess the pothole and schedule a repair,” the city said.

With files from John Ackermann