Greater Sudbury has put together a list of roadways that frequently have potholes and would benefit from large, full-lane asphalt replacement, rather than just pothole repair. “By intervening in localized areas of distress, large asphalt patches help to restore structural integrity and prevent further degradation of the pavement,” said a staff report headed to the June 16 operations committee. “This approach enhances safety and ride quality for road users while deferring the need for more extensive and costly rehabilitation or reconstruction.” The city has set aside $11.7 million for the large asphalt patches program, which will run until 2027. To determine which roads would benefit the most, staff analyzed data from last winter, looking for the busiest areas where potholes repeatedly popped up. Work to begin next month Other criteria included sites that are difficult to repair – such as intersections – major roadways and problem areas that are “more time-consuming to travel to.” A contract has been tendered with the work this year expected to begin next month and run until November. The patches are normally a full lane in width and run between 50 and 500 metres, depending on the conditions. “Approximately 83,000 square metres will be completed, which is equivalent to 23 lane kilometres at a 3.5 metres lane width,” the report said. “This represents a 45 per cent increase in asphalt patches to be completed with the approved budget.” A full list of the 27 roads selected for the program can be found here, and includes roads in Sudbury (Barry Downe Road, Lasalle Boulevard, The Kingsway), the Valley (Cote Boulevard, Deschesne Road), Rayside (Errington Avenue, Notre Dame Avenue), Skead Road and the Garson-Coniston Road.
