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Potholes on the mend

City crews working all shifts are patching potholes uncovered by the recent warm weather and rain. Potholes are formed as water gets into a crack in the asphalt.
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Remember these potholes along Domano Boulevard, when it was ranked by BCAA as second worst road in BC in 2012?

City crews working all shifts are patching potholes uncovered by the recent warm weather and rain.

Potholes are formed as water gets into a crack in the asphalt. When the temperature drops below zero, the water freezes and expands, and widens the asphalt crack.

The frequent freeze thaw cycles seen this winter has made the problem worse.

Crews take on the task to patch the pothole by clearing water and debris, then heating the patching mix in a mobile unit, filling the hold, compacting it and leveling it out.

"Since council has increased the annual road rehab budget, we have seen a steady decline in

potholes," said Gina Layte Liston. associate director of public works. Crews are not seeing new potholes on recently paved roads but on routes that are due for rehab, she added.

The number of potholes to patch is on the decline. In 2012 about 22,000 were fixed while in 2014 there were 14,000.

Drivers should be cautious when driving through puddles and navigating potholes, as hitting one could do damage.

Residents can report potholes on the city website at www.princegeorge.ca, under Frequently Visited Pages on the left side of the home page - it's the second to last item on the list.