Road Maintenance

Pavements often develop potholes during winter and spring thaw conditions, when it is difficult to obtain quality patching materials. 

The Formation of Potholes 

1. Water seeps into cracks in the pavement. 
2. The water builds up and softens the ground under the road. 
3. The water freezes and expands, which pushes the pavement up. 
4. When the water under the pavement dries, a hole is left beneath the road. 
5. The pavement is now weakened. As soon as a car drives over this area, the pavement collapses, leaving behind a pothole. 

Potholes usually occur in the spring when frost develops and snow is melting, and usually develop on the side of the road. Residents are warned to be careful when going through puddles because they can hide potholes.  

Frequently Asked Questions 

What causes potholes? 

Potholes have multiple causes including age and condition of the pavement, environmental conditions, traffic type and frequency, moisture sensitivity, and construction defects, as well as lack of funding for preventive maintenance treatments and timely rehabilitation of aging infrastructure. 

How are potholes repaired? 

The most common temporary repairs are throw-and-go and throw-and-roll methods. Throw-and-go is the most common method used in pothole repair campaigns and involves filling the pothole with material and having traffic compact it. Throw-and-roll is similar to throw-and-go with the exception that the pothole is compacted by truck tire before the crew moves to the next pothole. Semi-permanent repairs yield better results, but are more expensive and take more effort to complete a repair. 

What material is used to repair potholes? 

The most popular pothole repair patching material used in Canada is cold applied emulsion based products, followed by hot mix asphalt.  

When do pothole repairs take place? 

Weather conditions, public complaints and resources available are the main factors deciding whether temporary or semi-permanent repairs are required. Temporary repairs are usually made during poor weather conditions that are not optimal for more permanent repairs. Semi-permanent repair is normally done during favourable weather conditions and may require removal of deteriorated pavement and loose material around the repair area. Cold mix is generally used for temporary repairs with hot mix used to finish the repair. 

Potholes are usually repaired in live traffic conditions. A typical pothole and patch repair crew consists of two to five people and depends on the location, scope of work and equipment. 

What causes potholes on gravel roads? 

A pothole on a gravel road is most commonly caused by water getting trapped on or under the surface of the road because of poor drainage. The water will then displace the gravel leaving a void in the road. The best way to solve this problem is to grade the road. 

Residents are reminded to exercise caution on roads as potholes can develop when temperatures hover around zero. Township staff regularly patrol roads to monitor and determine maintenance activities that may be required.  Potholes are noted and repaired as required. 

Should residents encounter a pothole that seems to have been overlooked by staff, contact the Public Works Department to report it. 

In urban areas where there are curbs and gutters along the road, stormwater is usually collected in catchbasins. The catchbasins take it to the outfall through an underground storm sewer system. Maintenance holes allow for access to the underground pipes.

What is stormwater? 

• In a natural environment, rain and melted snow fall onto soft surfaces such a grass and infiltrate into the ground. In urbanized areas, rain and melted snow fall onto hard surfaces like roads, driveways and sidewalks, roofs, and continue to travel without infiltrating. This can cause flooding. 
• As the rain and melted snow flows across these hard surfaces it collects oil, dirt, and pollutants. The rainwater mixed with pollutants then flows into our storm sewers, stormwater management ponds, rivers, and natural waterways. The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) defines this mixture of rainwater and pollutants as municipal sewage. 
• A stormwater management pond is man-made infrastructure built to collect and treat rainfall and surface water runoff, as required by MECP legislation. The ponds are usually found in neighbourhoods, where stormwater can easily be collected and treated.   
• During rainfall, stormwater flows into the pond and fills the basin of the pond. As the pond fills, dirt, sediment, and pollutants settle down to the bottom. When the pond fills to its capacity, the water spills out at a controlled rate to reduce flooding and erosion to local waterways. The pollutants and sediment are left behind in the pond. Aquatic plants in the pond help with treating pollutants and plants around the edges of the pond help to stabilize banks and shade the water. 

SWMPs are not designed or intended for recreational use. For the health and safety of the public several activities are prohibited, including but not limited to: swimming or wading, skating, boating, and fishing. 

Why are stormwater management ponds unsafe for winter recreation? 

• These ponds collect water runoff from the roads. The runoff can contain salt and other materials that impact the water's ability to freeze. 
• Pipes constantly move water in and out of stormwater ponds, which can make water levels change frequently. 
• The water below the ice is constantly flowing. 
• The weather can change quickly here in Southern Ontario. Temperature, sun, wind and precipitation can all change quickly, causing weak spots in the ice.