Potholes cluttering Edmonton roads despite city’s efforts
By Vickie Laliotis, Cheryl Waddleton and Kim Melo
EDMONTON — Mark Trepanier frequently travels between St. Albert and South Edmonton to get to work. In his 25 years of driving during Edmonton’s harsh winters he has never had a speeding ticket, let alone a roadway mishap. That is, not until this year.
Trepanier was making his usual trip home along the Anthony Henday when he noticed a pothole.
“The road conditions were slick at the time so I was driving slowly,” Trepanier said. “I noticed a pothole on the road and when I tried to avoid it, I hit a patch of black ice and ended up in the ditch.”
He is not alone.
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- Photo supplied by www.treesrocksdirt.com.
One of the biggest frustrations for Edmontonians each spring is the less than desirable road conditions that arise from the formation of potholes.
Problematic Conditions
Despite having repaired 75,000 potholes since January, the city can’t seem to keep up with their constant reappearance. This year, Edmonton has reportedly seen about 400,000 to 500,000 potholes, said Don Marshall, head of risk management for the city.
“Many of the city’s roads were built years ago— some over 20 years now—and a lot of those roads are beyond their useful lifespan,” he said. “Edmonton has some of the most severe weather conditions in North America, which is perfect for the creation of potholes.”
According to Marshall, potholes result from severe changes in temperature that lead to the accumulation of moisture in pavement pores. This softens the pavement, and when combined with repeated cold spells and drivers on the roads, potholes are formed.
Report a Pothole
Laura Mcnabb, a city of Edmonton employee, takes calls regarding pothole complaints and concerns. When people feel the need to report a pothole, they are encouraged to contact the city to submit a report.
“People can call 311 or go online to report potholes and from there, they are forwarded to roadway maintenance,” Mcnabb said. “They go and investigate the potholes and address the more serious ones first.”
Assessing the Damage
Kal Tire can attest to the severity of the damage potholes are having on cars throughout the city.
In one location alone, a reported half dozen repairs are completed each week as a result of pothole-related damages, including:
- Basic tire damage
- Bent wheels
- Damaged suspension
- General impact damage
Yet sometimes the damage is far greater.
“At least three to four [vehicles] a week are coming in for more serious damage, like bent control arms and crippled cars,” said Brian Toldnes, a Kal Tire mechanic. “We’ve had a few come in on a tow truck that weren’t even able to drive.”
When asked whether or not the city will reimburse citizens for pothole-related car damages, Mcnabb offered some solace for frustrated Edmontonians.
“There is a claim process that people can go through to make their claims and submit them to the city,” she said. “The city then assesses [each claim] individually.”
What Can Be Done?
Marshall says the city is doing everything it can to fix to the problematic road conditions.
“We can fix a series of potholes on a roadway at 4:00 p.m. one day, and by the next day they may reappear,” he said.
Edmonton Transit worker Jeremy Kureluk thinks the city needs to focus on the longevity of the repairs in order to find a more permanent solution.
“You’ll see them fill a pothole one day and drive on the same road the next day, and it’s just as bad as it was before,” he said.
According to pavement management engineer Al Cepas, asphalt crews are working non-stop around the city to repair an estimated 450,000 potholes.
This is of little reassurance to people like Trepanier, who have felt the repercussions of the potholes firsthand. Despite the city’s efforts, he worries about his and his family’s safety while driving on Edmonton roads.
“Potholes are more of a safety concern than anything else,” Trepanier said. “It’s not only about the damage they cause to vehicles.”
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