Trimming the tree: Pothole in Normanview decorated for holiday season

Two orange traffic sawhorses in Regina’s Normanview neighbourhood could be visible from Santa’s sleigh this Christmas.

After six months of waiting, homeowners have decked out the traffic blockades covering a large pothole and turned it into a festive spectacle.

According to resident Amanda Langman, some good-humoured neighbours started by stuffing a tree in the barricades.

“A few days later, there’s a stand on,” said Langman. “A few days later, there’s some tinsel. A few days later, there’s lights, and so now we have a wreath and presents and stockings and there are different people contributing, so every time that you see something new, we have no idea who has been adding to it.”

With the hustle and bustle of the tree’s location near the Normanview shopping mall, Langman likes to refer to the pothole decoration as the “town square tree.”

The pothole first showed up in the summer, and sawhorses followed a few weeks after. Now Langman said she’s curious if the hole will be filled before the winter.

“(With) how the water was draining, there’s probably a big, big issue, and (it) probably takes lots of planning to get the work done,” said Langman.

Because the pothole is in a high-traffic area, Langman is growing concerned about heavy snow-removal machinery or semis rolling through and the ground giving way.

“I’m not sure if the road will hold up. I’m assuming the city has it under control,” said Langman.

Prolonged wait times have been common for many residents dealing with large potholes or washouts in Regina. Langman has contacted the city, and wonders whether her neighbours have done the same.

“I think we all appreciate the joy of the tree but the hole is still below,” said Langman.

The City of Regina said it was made aware of a collapsed storm drain in July.

“We prioritize broken infrastructure based on location, severity and risk to public safety,” it said in a statement. “This is scheduled to be fixed early December.”

The statement added that at the time it was reported, there was no evidence of a sinkhole.

Langman hopes city workers don’t destroy the decorations during repairs.

“I was super-excited to see the decorations,” she said. “I thought it added a lot to the street.”

— With files from 980 CJME’s Daniel Reech