Potholes

Potholes in roads are created when water seeps through cracks in the asphalt. After the moisture freezes and expands, sections of the pavement are forced up. The weight of vehicles moving over this section of road, breaks the pavement. Eventually these asphalt bits are forced out, leaving a pothole. Potholes form most commonly in the spring, when freezing and thawing events occur frequently.

The City of Vancouver’s Streets Operations Division has a number of work crews assigned to fixing potholes and other similar road maintenance issues. To repair a pothole, crews pour hot asphalt, rake it into the pothole, compact the asphalt down, and smooth it out to form a uniform surface with the rest of the road.

If you see a pothole on a city street

Phone:3-1-1
Outside Vancouver or are unable to reach 3-1-1, phone: 604.873.7000 TTY service: 604.873.7193