Pothole season is here

One of the first signs of the arrival of spring is potholes. Potholes form with the thaw and freeze cycle of spring. Drive with care when driving through standing water, as many potholes are hidden under meltwater and can cause damage to vehicles. Drivers should also slow down to avoid splashing pedestrians. It is impolite to splash pedestrians and could result in a fine of $100 for the driver.

 “Our Roadway crews are working to ensure that our roads are safe for everyone and performing pothole patching where they can. I want to remind drivers to slow down and obey all traffic barriers. The barriers are in place to keep the public and our workers safe,” said Stewart Schafer, Director of Operations.

Potholes occur when moisture enters cracks in the pavement. Then moisture freezes and expands, putting pressure on the cracked area. This cycle happens numerous times, causing the pavement to break and crumble. Vehicles running over potholes cause further damage to the crumbling pavement, resulting in bigger or deeper potholes.

Potholes can pose a serious driving hazard. While road crews perform patching, the City is asking drivers to:

• Slow down
• Drive with caution
• Avoid driving through accumulated water on the streets; if possible
• Report problem potholes online at www.cityofnb.ca/ServiceTracker

The Roadways Department is aware of problem areas. However, in some cases, the spring melting process must be completed for the Roadways Department to repair certain damaged areas.

For more information:
Dustin Tungilik MacDonald, Communications Administrator
306-441-1713 | dmacdonald@cityofnb.ca