While Calgarians continue to enjoy warm weather, City crews continue filling potholes at a swift pace. Crews have filled 35,864 potholes as of mid-November and are expected to continue filling as the weather remains favourable.“While our crews continue to be ready for winter maintenance operations, we can still take advantage of the weather and continue our good work on the pothole repair program,” says Chris Hewitt, Manager of Mobility Maintenance. “We have exceeded 2023’s record of 33,000 potholes filled. At this point the weather will likely determine how many more we’re able to fill through the end of the year.”
Potholes typically form in the spring, following the freeze-thaw cycle of the cooler months. When moisture penetrates cracks in the road, it freezes below the surface, forming an ice pocket. As this pocket disappears it leaves a void, which eventually becomes a pothole.
Calgarians are encouraged to help us spot a pothole by reporting them to 311 by calling or using the mobile app. Once reported, the potholes are added to our maintenance lists and filled based on factors such as road use and pothole severity.
Information on Calgary’s pothole program, including a running tally of filled potholes and an interactive pothole map is available at Calgary.ca/potholes.
New Infrared Asphalt Heater gives City crews another tool in their arsenal for road repairs
The City has been ramping up the use of a new tool in our pothole toolbox, a mobile infrared heater. This infrared heater allows sections of roadway to be repaired quickly and allows The City to use reclaimed asphalt for these repairs. Materials used in traditional asphalt repairs, such as hot tar, are not required with the infrared heater, meaning the work can be done with less materials, fewer pieces of equipment and fewer staff. Crews began using this new equipment in the latter part of summer 2024.
The machine uses infrared heating to heat the existing asphalt on the roadway, helping it create a seamless bond between the new asphalt and existing pavement. The results can include a smoother surface between repair and road and potentially longer-lasting repairs, which in turn improve the overall quality and durability of the road surface. This machine is intended to be used for smaller repairs, but is expected to provide superior quality repairs when compared with traditional pothole repair methods.
“Our infrared asphalt heater is an example of how The City of Calgary is continuing to look for innovative ways to maintain our road network,” says Hewitt. “This machine works by heating the surface of the road, meaning we can repair and reclaim existing asphalt without the risk of burning, scaling or separating the asphalt from the aggregate. We look forward to continue monitoring how this device can help us tackle road repairs in the future.”
