Weather permitting, the City of Toronto will launch its first pothole repair blitz this Saturday to keep Toronto’s expressways, major roads and neighbourhood streets in a state of good repair.
42 City crews (approximately 106 staff members) will work a 12-hour shift, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., to repair as many potholes as possible.
Crews have performed proactive daily patrols throughout the winter months to fix potholes across the city. Saturday is forecasted to have favourable enough weather conditions for a pothole repair blitz as daytime temperatures are expected to be above zero with dry conditions.
Residents driving or cycling are advised to expect minor delays around pothole crews. The public is asked to be safe by respecting work zones and giving crews space while they make repairs.
Crews have already repaired 12,570 potholes since January 1. Last year, the City repaired more than 178,800 potholes. Pothole repair blitz crews are made up of the same City staff who handle road maintenance, snow clearing, street sweeping and other maintenance and roadway safety work.
Potholes can normally be repaired within four days of crews being made aware through proactive patrols and 311 service requests from residents. When there are large numbers of potholes to be repaired, they are triaged based on size and repairs are prioritized on major roads first.
Members of the public can report potholes to 311 via the 311 Toronto mobile app, online at Toronto.ca/311 or by calling 311. Learn more about how the City manages potholes at Toronto.ca/Potholes.
Quotes:
“In the 2023 budget we’ve worked to protect nuts-and-bolts frontline services like pothole repairs. In this year’s first pothole blitz, hardworking City crews will work from sunrise to sunset to improve our roadways and make them safer for people driving and cycling. If you come across City crews filling potholes, please keep your distance, be patient and give them space to do their job.”
– Mayor John Tory
“Potholes are not only a nuisance, but they can cause damage and delays. We’re encouraging everyone to help by reporting potholes to 311 so that City crews can repair them as soon as possible.”
– Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park), Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.