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City of Toronto to undertake pothole repair blitz on Saturday

Newswire.ca
March 15, 2019

Temperatures are rising again and with that City of Toronto crews are mobilizing for another pothole repair blitz this Saturday, March 16. The City expects to conduct additional weekend pothole repair blitzes through April.

Toronto has experienced several freeze-thaw cycles this winter, which have resulted in more potholes. City crews, who also handle snow removal and clearing, have already repaired more than 33,000 potholes in 2019.

Crews can repair from 4,000 to 6,000 potholes in a one-day blitz. During the last blitz, on February 23, crews repaired 5,826 potholes and used more than 109 tonnes of asphalt mix.

On a typical day, 25 crews repair potholes. During the blitz, more than 50 crews will work up to a 12-hour day to fill potholes across the city, including on the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway. Motorists are advised to leave extra time and expect minor delays. The public is asked to be safe by respecting work zones and giving crews space while they work.

A few recent examples of how the City manages road surfaces include:

The City has a comprehensive road maintenance program and has budgeted approximately $182 million in 2019 for road repairs, rehabilitation and maintenance work, including between $4 million and $5 million to fix potholes. Each pothole costs about $25 to repair. Since 2015, the City has repaired an average of 224,440 potholes annually.

Road users and business owners can report potholes online at http://bit.ly/2E1wyUb or by calling 311, emailing 311@toronto.ca, or by using the 311 app available online.

Once crews are made aware of a pothole, it can usually be repaired within four days. When there are large numbers of potholes to be repaired, they are triaged based on size. Repairs are prioritized on major roads first.

Learn more about potholes in Toronto at http://bit.ly/2E1wyUb.