Toronto – The City of Toronto will launch a pothole repair blitz to keep Toronto’s expressways, major roads and neighbourhood streets in a state of good repair. City crews will work a 12-hour shift, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., to repair as many potholes as possible.
Outside of concentrated repair blitzes, crews continue to perform proactive daily patrols to repair potholes across the city and have so far repaired more than 75,000 potholes since the beginning of the year.
The pothole blitz tomorrow caps a week-long effort where City crews worked extended hours to prioritize the repairing of potholes. This effort was made to respond to service requests and ensure that roads are safe and smooth for the spring and summer seasons.
Potholes occur when water penetrates the top layer of asphalt through cracks in the road. After the moisture freezes and expands, sections of the pavement are forced up. The weight of vehicles going over this section breaks the pavement, and the asphalt is forced out. Potholes are more frequent in the spring following the freeze/thaw cycles during the winter months.
Residents driving or cycling are advised to expect minor delays around pothole crews. The public is asked to be safe by respecting work zones and giving crews space while they make repairs.
The City has a comprehensive pothole repair program. The City Council approved budget for pothole repairs in 2023 is $4.6 million. Pothole repair blitz crews are made up of the same City staff who manage road maintenance, snow clearing, street sweeping and other maintenance and roadway safety work.
Potholes can normally be repaired within four days of crews being made aware through proactive patrols and 311 service requests from residents. When there are large numbers of potholes to be repaired, they are triaged based on size and repairs are prioritized on major roads first.
Members of the public can report potholes to 311 via the 311 Toronto mobile app, online at www.toronto.ca/311 or by calling 311. More about how the City manages potholes is on the City’s Potholes webpage.
“We’re continuing to invest in maintaining a reliable transportation infrastructure and proactively repairing potholes is a key part of that effort. I want to thank all the crews who will be working tirelessly this Saturday to repair as many potholes as possible. If you see a pothole, don’t assume that someone else has already reported it. Reporting potholes to 311 is quick and easy, and it’s an important way for residents to help us prioritize repairs and keep our roads safe.” – Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park)