The annual ritual of dodging potholes around Nanaimo is on the to-do list of City of Nanaimo public works crews. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

road rehab

City crews fill potholes popping up around Nanaimo

Feb 19, 2020 | 12:59 PM

NANAIMO — City crews are busy filling dozens of potholes after a blast of cold winter weather hit Nanaimo.

David Myles, manager of roads and traffic services with the City of Nanaimo, said around 40 potholes were identified.

They’re being patched up temporarily for safety reasons until a more reliable hot mix solution can be applied.

“We’ll be back out in the spring with the warmer weather and making permanent repairs where those temporary repairs were made.”

Myles said there are noticeably fewer potholes around Nanaimo compared to last year, but cautioned winter isn’t over just yet.

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People who notice a pothole they’ve made a habit of swerving around are invited to contact the City.

“We try to attend every one, whether it’s as small as a teacup saucer or a large one, we try to attend them all,” Myles said.

While no neighbourhood is immune to potholes, Myles said older roads are more prone to the unwelcomed dips.

“Indiscriminate areas across town, high traffic areas or even in residential areas,” Myles said. “A lot of it has to do with the age of the asphalt.”

While the City is responsible for just about all of Nanaimo’s roughly 600 kilometers of roads, the province is responsible for the highways which bracket the city.

A statement from Mainroad Mid Island Contracting said their crews are actively patching up provincial roadways in the Nanaimo area: “Currently we have crews filling potholes daily in the Nanaimo area. As a reference, in 2019 we filled over 11,000 potholes in the service area.”

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes