Potholes get a temporarily fix in Kitchener

A seasonal nuisance has reared its head once again: problematic potholes. CTV’s Heather Senoran has advice for winter driving.

Crews are working to temporarily repair potholes across the City of Kitchener.

On Monday afternoon, they were patching problem areas on Country Hill Drive.

It’s only an interim solution, as the asphalt they typically use won’t be available until closer to the summer.

“It’s kind of like a granular material with an adhesive to it that will bond, but not as good as hot mix asphalt,” explained Shain Spooner, the city’s operations supervisor.

He said it is the freeze and thaw cycle that happens through the fall and winter months that creates the potholes in the first place.

“Water gets into the asphalt, and it’ll freeze. Then, once it’s frozen, it’ll dislodge the material and traffic will as well,” Spooner said.

Crews try to get to around 120 potholes every day, but they can’t get to every one, so drivers should keep an eye out when they’re on the road.

“You should try and avoid it. Use caution,” said Spooner. “[Also] be cautious around [crews]. Work around them. Be patient, as there might be delays.”

Graham Steel, a Kitchener resident, said his car hit multiple potholes on Monday.

“One I hit was fairly severe. Whether it damaged my rim, I don’t know. Sometimes, you don’t have a choice, and you hit them and bang!”

Others said they do whatever they can to avoid them.

“I sometimes try to swerve the car a little, just so that I don’t actually have to drive through them,” said Jamie, another Kitchener resident.

Crews are always searching for rough roads, but residents can also flag potholes by reaching out directly to the city.