Two thousand more potholes reported in Saskatoon compared to last spring

A spring pothole is pictured in this file photo.

The City of Saskatoon says a surge in potholes this year is linked to a harsh winter and prolonged freeze thaw events.

More than 3,700 potholes have been reported so far this year, according to the city. That’s an increase of more than 2,000 compared with the same period last year.

Potholes form when moisture seeps into cracks in the pavement, freezes and expands which causes the asphalt to break apart. Traffic passing over the damaged areas can quickly make the holes larger.

According to the city, higher-than-average snowfall and frequent freeze-thaw events pushed back its annual pothole blitz.

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The city says it’s ramping up pothole repairs with additional crews and contractors set to begin repairs starting on Monday.

The city says crews have already used nearly 400 tonnes of asphalt since hot-mix material became available at the start of May.

“Crews prioritize potholes in driving lanes on high-traffic streets first to address safety and mobility concerns quickly. Once these areas are addressed, crews return to repair potholes near curbs, parking lanes, and lower-priority streets,” the city said.

The city says emergency potholes are marked as high priority and are typically repaired within 24 to 72 hours, weather permitting.

Residents can report potholes through the city’s online map, where they can also track repair status.