Drivers dodging an increasing number of potholes

Potholes are popping up on roads across Waterloo Region, but how do you report them? CTV’s Colton Wiens has the answer.

If it feels like you’re spending more time dodging potholes on the road, you’re not alone.

Local municipalities say they are seeing more of them forming due to fluctuating temperatures across southern Ontario.

Potholes are created when water gets inside small cracks in the road and then freezes. The ice expands, and can make the holes bigger. Then, when a thaw comes around, gaps form under the road surface, weakening the area. When vehicles drive over those weak spots, the pavement breaks and a pothole is born.

City representatives for Kitchener and Waterloo told CTV News on Friday they are dealing with an increasing number of calls and crews were hard at work trying to fill all the potholes.

Meantime, in Waterloo, staff were focused on clearing snowpack from residential roads while also trying to address pavement problems.

“Staff are working on filling potholes on each shift this week as they are identified during our road patrols and/or called in by residents,” Chad Heise, manager of transportation operations for the City of Waterloo, said in an email.

Waterloo Region works with cities and townships to tackle road and winter maintenance, but city crews take the lead on regional roads within the cities while the region is responsible for all other regional roads in the township.

There are multiple ways to report a pothole based on where the problem is located:

• Cambridge handles complaints online through a service request form.
• People are encouraged to report potholes in Kitchener by calling 519-741-2345.
• Issues can be reported to the City of Waterloo online, but residents should call 519-886-2310 for immediate safety concerns.
• People can either call 519-575-4400 or fill out an online form to alert Waterloo Region to a problematic pothole.