Potholes: How they develop, how to avoid them and what the damage can cost

CTV London: Potholes dominate London streets After months of watching for snow and ice, drivers now need to be on the lookout for damaging potholes. Nick Paparella explains.

It's that time of year again. Potholes are showing up across the city and causing damage to vehicles that can cost in the hundreds - and sometimes even thousands - to repair.

The Canadian Automobile Association says potholes form when rain, freezing rain and snow work into the soil underneath pavement. As the temperature drops, water freezes and expands, pushing the soil and pavement up.

When it starts to thaw, water flows out and the soil recedes, creating a hole under the pavement. A vehicle passing over the area then breaks the pavement, causing a pothole.

The weaker the pavement, the more likely potholes will develop.

Car parts that can be damaged by potholes include:

Avoiding potholes is the best way to defend against them. Here are some tips from CAA and Jeremy Hanford of Hanford’s Tire and Service:

Cost to the City of London: John Parsons, the city’s manager of transportation and roadside operations, says the average cost to the city each winter season is about $550,000. He expects this winter’s costs to be about the same.

Costs to Motorists: Damage to vehicles from potholes can range from about $100 to $2,000. Tires and rims are the most common areas of damage. If a driver loses control due to a pothole, more damage can result.

What the experts say

John Parsons says the city is coming into the main season for a “bumper crop” potholes, with about 15 trucks out daily dealing only with potholes. He says “The last few days there’s been a lot of activity.”

Mike Smith of London Wheel Repair says this year has been a busy one and lately he’s seen a flurry of activity. “It was insane; it was astronomical. It’s one of the busiest springs I’ve seen.”

At Hanford Tire and Service, Jeremy Hanford agrees that this year has been busy, “It’s worse this year, due to the winter we’ve had.”

Hanford warns motorists that a lot of potholes are lurking under puddles, so beware. He says most of the damage he sees is on the right side of vehicles, due to potholes near curbs.

To report potholes, call the City of London at 519-661-4570 or visit their website.

We asked Londoners to share some of the potholes they've spotted in the city on the CTV London Facebook page.

You can check out some of the responses by looking in the comments below:

Post by CTV London.

Post by CTV London.