City of Winnipeg to ramp up pothole repair

City of Winnipeg officials said crews will ramp up pothole repairs this week.

Officials released their pothole repair plan Tuesday, saying 11 crews are currently working to repair Priority 1 and 2 streets.

The city has also deployed six pothole patching machines and five hand-asphalting crews to fill the holes.

Liz Peters of CAA Manitoba said the potholes are already taking a toll on Winnipeg drivers.

"People are asking why those pothole patchers aren’t out yet," said Peters.

"People are asking why they don’t just rip out the roads instead of just patching it."

Winnipeg driver Faye Luptak said the potholes are so bad she has to take alternate routes.

"I go around and down Portage Avenue instead of down Sargent and St. James," said Luptak.

CAA Manitoba is gathering feedback from drivers like Luptak and is set to launch its annual Worst Roads Campaign, which names the worst of the worst roads in Winnipeg.

"Although the name sounds a little negative, what we want to do is help fix the problem, help the levels of government pinpoint those problems that most people are troubled by," said Peters.

City officials said this time of year is particularly bad for potholes because of the freeze and thaw cycle.

The city’s public works department is monitoring road conditions and will focus patching efforts on main routes, bus routes, collector streets and curb lanes where water accumulates.

Winnipeggers are encouraged to report potholes to the city by calling 311.