Between repeated snowfalls and lumpy, hard-packed or sheet ice it seems driving around the Tri-Cities couldn't get much worse.
That is, until the potholes started to form — and after weeks of the alternating freeze/thaw cycle, there are a lot of them.
Guildford Way, near Falcon and Lansdowne drives, is sporting a number of large divots, as is Pipeline Way. Port Moody's Ioco Road, west of Barber Lane, is also pretty bumpy.
"This is a very common occurrence in any city that has any snow or cold weather," said Tim Savoie, PoMo's city manager.
But as anyone who's tried to find road salt in the burgeoning SaltGate frenzy knows, such a prolonged period of freezing temperatures isn't all that common here in Greater Vancouver.
Potholes are formed when water seeps into cracks in the road, then freezes, thaws and freezes again.
"Typically roads with poor drainage in the road base (under the asphalt) or that are already experiencing other types of fatigue in the road structure (cracking, excess wearing) are more susceptible to potholes," said Dave Kidd, PoCo's manager of public works, in an email.
City crews are responding to pothole reports from the public with cold mix asphalt, a temporary fix until warmer temperatures set in, to prevent as much vehicle damage as possible.
Savoie said PoMo is working on a proposal to hire a contractor to come in and patch with regular asphalt sooner but are being stymied by asphalt companies across the country that have shut down for the winter.
Fortunately the city located a local company that has agreed to open up their shop to produce enough blacktop to keep the roads patched semi-permanently through the winter. That work is expected to start next week.
"To do a proper job we'll have to wait until the warmer weather arrives," Savoie said.
PoCo is treating its potholes similar to road clearing — arterial and collector roads are the priority given the higher traffic volumes and speeds.
Two crews are out now patching with cold mix asphalt, and residents are encouraged to report potholes to the public works department ([email protected] or 604-927-5496 or submit a photo to the "wasteline" app at portcoquitlam.ca/wasteline).
In the meantime drivers are advised to slow down and leave plenty of extra space from the vehicle in front so they have a chance to spot the pothole and avoid it if possible.
PoCo's Kidd said if your vehicle has been damaged by a pothole it's best to stop driving if your vehicle isn't operating properly, see a mechanic and notify your insurance provider to check whether you have coverage.
