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City tackling pothole problem after harsh winter

Apr 2, 2018 | 3:00 PM

Like the annual growth of buds on trees, or birds returning, just as predictable are those nasty potholes being back in full force around the region. The heaving, exploding mini craters that are suddenly appearing on the roadways may be a sure sign that spring is on the way, but they are also a bane to North Battleford drivers.

Residents will have an opportunity to let the city know what potholes in their neighbourhoods need fixing in the coming weeks now that the city has begun its pothole repair program again.

“We ask people to be vigilant; call in to the number if you identify a pothole,” said Mayor Ryan Bater.  

The mayor added drivers should also be careful when approaching a pothole to protect their cars.

“What looks like a small pothole could actually be a deep pothole that could do damage to your vehicle,” he said. 

City crews started repairing potholes about a month ago and will be continuing repairs over the coming weeks.

“Annually, we have an issue with potholes after the winter leaves and then spring comes,” said Bater, adding all communities encounter the same problems each spring.  

The city has a lot of potholes to fix this spring as a result of the temperature fluctuations this winter.

The city’s infrastructure services director Dan Loewen said the extreme cold temperatures have been “hard on our roads” too.

“It warms up during the day, it melts, and then the potholes fill with water. Then, it freezes and the asphalt breaks up right when it re-freezes,” said Loewen.

He said crews have been driving around the city finding the worst potholes and filling them in for immediate repair jobs. 

The city has been applying a cold mix as a temporary fix to fill potholes it identifies, and will be putting in a more permanent hot mix repair starting Tuesday, as the weather starts to warm up going into the spring. 

Potholes are not only a curse to drivers hoping for a smooth ride to their destinations, they can also lead to costly vehicle repairs down the road since they can be hard on a vehicle’s shocks and struts.

The city said it doesn’t cover drivers’ costs to fix their vehicles damaged by city potholes as the city doesn’t have any liability for these repairs impacting vehicles.

The city is asking people to call its phone line to report a pothole so workers will be able to fix it while repairing potholes in the area.

Mayor Ryan Bater said the pothole repair program covers all areas in North Battleford.

Anyone wishing to report a pothole to have it repaired can call 306-445-1700.

“The more calls we receive, the better able we are to address them,” said Bater. 

 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

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