Potholes are costing Canadians billions. But there are some solutions

Potholes are a common annoyance for drivers across Canada, causing frustration and additional costs for vehicle repairs and maintenance. The root cause of potholes lies in the freezing and thawing cycles that roads undergo due to moisture seeping under the pavement and expanding when frozen. As vehicles drive over these weakened areas, cracks form and eventually lead to potholes.

The impact of potholes is not only felt by drivers but also by municipalities, who spend millions of dollars each year on road maintenance. In Edmonton, the city’s pothole repair budget has doubled in recent years, reaching $11 million in 2024. Similarly, in Saskatoon, over 50,000 potholes were repaired in the same year, a 52% increase from the previous year.

The rising costs of materials and labour, coupled with the increasing number of vehicles on the roads, have made pothole repair a significant expense for cities across Canada. Beyond the financial burden, potholes also pose a safety risk to drivers, as hitting a large pothole can lead to loss of control and accidents.

To address the issue of potholes, some municipalities are turning to innovative solutions. In Durham, Ontario, AI software called CityRover is being used to detect and log potholes that need repair. This technology helps identify issues early, preventing more significant damage to the roads and saving money in the long run.

In addition to short-term fixes, long-term solutions are also being explored. One approach involves building roads with more innovative materials that are crack-resistant and have a lower carbon footprint. Self-healing roads, which use fibre-reinforced concrete to fill in cracks as they form, are another promising technology that could provide more durable and long-lasting road surfaces.

While these innovative solutions may have higher initial costs, they have the potential to save money in the long term and create more sustainable infrastructure. By investing in new technologies and materials, municipalities can reduce the frequency of pothole repairs and ensure safer and more reliable roadways for drivers across Canada.