Spring freezing and thawing makes for harsh pothole season in Saskatoon

The delayed spring and repeated freezing and thawing haven’t been kind to Saskatoon’s streets, and the city says potholes are worse than usual this year.

Street crews are working on filling potholes around Saskatoon using hot-mix asphalt, which provides more permanent repairs.

A media release from the city said potholes will be filled on a priority basis. The worst holes – those bad enough to be considered an emergency – are expected to be taken care of between one and three days, if weather permits.

“Non-emergency pothole repairs are part of planned maintenance programs, ensuring the road network’s longevity while prioritizing citizen safety and fiscal responsibility,” the city added.

Cam LeClaire, the city’s acting roadways manager, says crews look at the potholes reported and take care of high traffic areas first.

If a car is damaged because of a pothole, LeClaire said the owner can visit the city’s claims section on its website for information.

Potholes can be reported on the city’s website or by calling its customer care centre. Emergency potholes are marked as high priority on the city’s pothole reporting map.

“We’ve got a lot of activity out in the streets right now in the summer season, so slow down, watch out for work zones, and watch out for people out there fixing potholes,” LeClaire said.

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After being delayed due to rain, residential street sweeping begins in Saskatoon on Wednesday. (Taylor MacPherson/650 CKOM)

Street sweeping begins

The recent rain falling on the city delayed residential street sweeping, but that is set to begin on Wednesday.

Because rain can turn dust and debris into mud, street sweepers can be faced with a challenge when it comes to cleaning roads, the city noted.

Any scheduled sweeping that was missed due to the weather will be rescheduled for a later date.