Multiple potholes have emerged along Hwy. 19, north of Nanaimo, after a recent freeze-thaw cycle. Reports suggested upwards of 15 vehicles were changing tires on the side of the road during the evening commute Monday, Jan. 10. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

POTHOLE PROBLEMS

‘Car-eater’ potholes emerging along Hwy. 19 after freeze-thaw cycle

Jan 11, 2022 | 1:51 PM

NANAIMO — A recent freeze-thaw cycle is being blamed for a large number of potholes popping up on area roads.

Reports to NanaimoNewsNOW on Monday, Jan. 10 described some as ‘car-eaters’ with well-over a dozen vehicles seen pulled over to the side of the road, changing out blown and damaged tires.

Teagan Burton, operations manager for Mainroad Mid-Island Contracting said the current weather system makes it a perfect breeding ground for potholes.

“We experienced quite a bit of moisture mid-November to the beginning of December and then we hit that cold snap. The water freezes in the potholes, then thaws, then freezes again which just helps the crack grow.”

She said Mainroad plans to patch up Hwy. 19 potholes on Tuesday, Jan. 11, with the work starting around 8 p.m. between Ware Rd. and Exit 51 at Parksville.

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However, Burton said permanent fixture will have to wait.

Hub caps and shredded tires remained after large potholes damaged multiple vehicles on Monday, Jan. 10 during the evening commute. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

“The wet conditions are also not very conducive to the temporary patching material that we are using. When it freezes and thaws, it expands and contracts and then pops those temporary patches out of the holes.”

She said crews have been continually patching trouble spots in the roads, sometimes as often as twice during a 12-hour shift.

“We are hoping that will hold for a little bit longer until we can get some paving material from the paving plants in to do a little bit more of a permanent fix.”

She said weather conditions will also play a factor in when a permanent fix can be made, as dry, warmer weather is needed so new patches or paving can set correctly.

And if it snows again, removing it from the highways becomes their main priority.

“It’s an unfortunate thing that happens in the wintertime…it’s part of the crew’s regular routine to keep on top of the patching, but the potholes are breeding quite fast right now.”

Also high on the repair list for Hwy. 19 is the long term fix of a sink hole which opened up near Superior Rd. in November, snarling traffic between Nanaimo and Parksville for days.

Parts of a roadside barrier are damaged, with tire tracks indicating a vehicle crashed through it shortly after the ‘car-eater’ pothole on Hwy. 19 (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow