Calgary city repairs hundreds of potholes on streets

The City of Calgary was able to repair 605 potholes on the streets since the start of February.

“Thankfully, due to some of the warmer weather we had over the past few weeks in 2023, and we’ve actually been able to do some pothole repair work,” said Chris McGeachy, communications and spokesperson for the city’s mobility.

The city says on its website repairing potholes helps maintain the city’s roads, while ensuring transportation safety.

Temporary repairs are usually completed in the winter when roads are clear of snow and ice, while permanent repairs take place either in the spring or summer. Meanwhile, McGeachy says crews are always on the look out for potholes.

“We don’t need to do potholes year round … we can wind down when we’re dealing with snow and cold temperatures,” McGeachy said.

The city explains potholes can develop on the streets when moisture gets through the asphalt surface on paved roads and streets “followed by repeated freeze/thaw cycles and vehicle traffic.”

In addition, McGeachy blames Calgary’s weather for paving the way to many potholes.

“So, obviously with Calgary being a winter city, potholes do tend to occur. So potholes occur when we have moisture on the road, typically from snow melt,” McGeachy said.

He adds Calgarians play a big role in reporting potholes.

“The transportation network is very important to Calgarians … potholes is apart of that. So, we encourage people to keep an eye out and help identify those potholes,” he added.

The city prioritizes repairs based on severity of the pothole, safety impacts, and location. Currently, the city’s potholes map has 311 requests either reported by people or inspected by the city.

To report a pothole, you can submit a 311 service request, or visit the city’s website.

With files from Nadia Moharib