Potholes and roads maintenance
Every year from March to November, crews are busy repairing potholes and completing road maintenance across the region. Over 2,700 potholes are expected to be fixed this year, along with sidewalk, curb and gutter repairs, crack sealing, and damaged asphalt repairs.
How potholes form
Potholes aren’t enjoyable for drivers or maintenance crews, but unfortunately, they are unavoidable in northern Alberta. During the freeze-thaw periods, water gets into cracks then freezes and expands. Micro-fractures turn into larger cracks, which allows even more water in, and the cycle repeats itself when water freezes again. Over time, potholes will continue to expand which is why crews repair thousands during the short construction season.
How are potholes repaired?
From late May to early fall, pothole repairs will increase as work shifts from the temporary fixes, to the more permanent “hot-mix” repairs, which requires the local asphalt plants to be open for purchase.
Pothole patching is performed either as an “emergency” repair which can happen during wet and cold conditions, or as routine maintenance scheduled for warmer and drier periods.
Emergency repairs are usually done only when a pothole presents a substantial safety or traffic operational issue.
There are two methods for fixing a pothole:
1. Cold-Patch: Cold mix asphalt material is shoveled into the pothole, which may or may not be filled with water and debris and compacted if possible. Cold patch repairs are quick, but temporary; they are a fix performed when traffic and weather conditions prevent a more permanent repair.
2. Hot-Patch: Water and debris are removed from the pothole. Tack coat oil is applied and then a heated asphalt mix is placed and compacted. Because this method is more labour and equipment intensive, it is usually done when traffic and weather conditions are more favorable.
Hot patching is the favored approach for repairing potholes but this can only be used during the summer months (May-September) when hot mix asphalt is available.
Throughout the rest of the year, we use cold mix, which will sometimes need to be filled multiple times.
Report a pothole
To report a pothole, contact Pulse at 780-743-7000 or online at rmwb.ca/pulse
Pothole repairs are prioritized based on several factors including traffic volume, safety impact and available resources. While many pothole locations are identified by the Roads team, we encourage residents to report locations as well.
Highway 63, including the on and exit ramps, are maintained and operated by the Government of Alberta. To report a pothole on Highway 63, please contact the Highway Maintenance Contractor, Emcon Services at 1-800-390-2242.
Safety first
For everyone’s safety, drive cautiously through construction zones, keep a safe distance from maintenance crews and equipment, and follow all posted signage. Please plan ahead and expect minor delays while construction work is happening.
There are larger road rehabilitation construction projects happening this summer. Find more information about these projects here.
Frequently Asked Questions
