Quick and accurate reporting of potholes and other issues will greatly assist crews in finding and fixing problems as they develop
Thursday, March 7, 2019 - Yarmouth, N.S. - During this time of frequent freeze/thaw cycles, the Town of Yarmouth is urging citizens to report potholes and other road hazards they encounter as quickly, and accurately, as possible. Residents can call in to report a pothole, or use "SeeClickFix", the Town's easy-to-use web tool which allows people to report non-emergency issues. Using the Town’s website or a smartphone, residents can access this tool to report a pothole directly to work crews who can then investigate and repair as needed.
As any seasoned Yarmouthian knows, our climate is quite volatile during the winter months, alternating quickly between mild and cold weather. These conditions result in the rapid formation of potholes. In some cases, a pothole can worsen in just a few hours. Although Public Works crews continually monitor more than 80 km of streets for these potholes and other issues, recent weather patterns have made the task more challenging, and help is needed from the public to find and fix issues.
"It's important that potholes and any unsafe conditions encountered on our streets are reported," says Mayor Pam Mood. "Our guys work continually to find and fix problems as they come up, but the process is faster when the public calls or uses our online reporting tool to let us know about an issue. As Facebook comments are not monitored on a regular basis, posting there is not the avenue to getting a pothole taken care of. Accurate locations and details will get the crews to the right place with the right material."
Most potholes result when the top layer of asphalt detaches from the underlying layer, and are typically only 1.5 to 2 inches deep and don't pose a hazard. Pothole repairs are prioritized based on the location and size. If potholes are deep or located in the wheel lane or near a painted crosswalk, they are immediately filled with cold mix asphalt. Smaller potholes are repaired with hot mix asphalt using the Town’s asphalt recycler during more favourable weather conditions. In both cases, dry weather conditions are necessary and some potholes cannot be addressed until warmer weather arrives in the spring.
In addition to reporting potholes either by phone or online, the Town also wishes to stress that drivers need to take extra caution during the winter and spring months, especially when passing over puddles or areas of standing water along the streets. Spots in the road that hold water often have a pothole hiding beneath it.
How to Report a Pothole
Report it Online with "SeeClickFix"
Using the Town's website, navigate to the Report a Problem page. You can also access this page by clicking on the "Report a Problem" icon on the home page. You can also download the See Click Fix app to your phone at the App Store and Google Play. The app lets you easily snap a picture, add the location using address or GPS, and send it for attention. If possible, please send a photo and description (location and size) of the pothole. The more details, the better.
Report it by Phone
You can also report by phone at 902-742-9423. Office hours are 8:30-4:30 (leave a message after hours).
About the Formation of Potholes
Water seeps into cracks in the pavement. The water builds up and softens the ground under the road. The water freezes and expands, which pushes the pavement up. When the water under the pavement dries, a hole is left beneath the road. The pavement is now weakened. As soon as a car drives over this area, the pavement collapses, leaving behind a pothole.