City of Ottawa crews have been busy filling potholes on city streets so far this winter, as the freeze-thaw cycles create craters on roads across the city. Statistics provided to CTV News Ottawa show crews have filled 13,973 potholes since Jan. 1, compared to 7,243 potholes during the period of Jan. 1 to Feb. 23, 2025. Ottawa’s area manager of roads services says pothole repairs “remain a key priority for road crews.” “Especially during peak pothole season when freeze–thaw cycles place added stress on roads, sidewalks, and the winter cycling network,” Bryden Denyes said in a statement. “Hundreds of crews are deployed citywide during these periods to respond quickly and complete repairs.” The 2026 City of Ottawa budget showed the city will spend $12.6 million to fill potholes this year, up from $12.3 million in 2025. The city filled more than 257,000 potholes in 2025, compared to 268,110 potholes repaired in 2024 and 222,256 potholes in 2023. Denyes notes Ottawa experiences an average of 79 freeze-thaw cycles over the winter months. “These temperature swings cause pavement to expand and contract, creating cracks where water can enter,” Denyes said. “When that water freezes and expands, it pushes the pavement apart, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles can cause the surface to break down and form potholes. Late winter and early spring are typically the most challenging periods for road conditions, as freeze-thaw cycles increase and winter weather events, such as snow and freezing rain, continue to occur.” Residents are encouraged to report potholes to the City of Ottawa online. Pothole claims The City of Ottawa continues to receive hundreds of claims submitted for pothole damage. A report for the finance and corporate services committee shows the city received 405 new claims due to potholes in 2025, up from 323 pothole claims in 2024. The city received a total of 1,340 new claims in 2025 for property damage or personal injury claims. “Of the total number of new claims received for 2025, 405 (30 per cent) represent pothole claims, which is annually the most common type of claim received by the unit,” staff said.
