Unsightly potholes are creeping up once again along many North Battleford roads. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Pothole spotting

City asking public to report potholes

Mar 27, 2020 | 5:08 PM

There is something dark, deep and formidable around the corner many motorists dread at this time of the year: Yes, it’s pothole season once again in the Battlefords.

The City of North Battleford is asking the public to call City Hall to report any potholes they see while traveling through the city streets so they can be fixed promptly.

The city is reminding drivers to slow down, drive with caution, and avoid driving through pools of water if possible where potholes may be hiding.

Director of city operations Stewart Schafer said crews are trying to “stay on top” of the situation by making pothole repairs as soon as they can.

“We have crews that are going out, as they have done in previous years, look at the driving lanes and put a cold-mix down to fill in the hole that is created,” he said.

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Schafer said there are some common areas that often see bad potholes this time of the year — Territorial Drive at the Highway 4 intersection, Territorial Drive at Carlton Trail, and Frontier Way at Carlton Trail.

He said there is often particular deterioration at intersections where larger vehicles are more likely to make turns.

One thing good about this year is “it has been a nice slow melt,” Schafer said. “If it was a heavy melt, then a freeze and a deep cold, we would have a heavier pothole year.”

There has been a slow thaw at the start of spring, and the water run-off is moving smoothly, so it’s been easier for the city’s crews to manage the pothole work more effectively.

According to the city’s statement, potholes occur when moisture enters spaces in the pavement, freezes and then expands. The expansion then puts pressure on the surrounding pavement causing it to deteriorate. During this season, that cycle is repeated every day, causing more, larger potholes.

The city operations department advises people to drive slowly through any standing water, since deep potholes may be lurking underneath the water’s surface. The city said the department is aware of most problem areas and will fix the potholes as weather and schedules permit. Some pothole repairs will need to wait until the spring melt is complete in order for crews to repair them properly.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW