SASKATOON – It’s spring time on the Prairies and while the warm weather is nice, what’s left behind after the melting snow isn’t. Due to the unseasonably warm winter ,the City of Saskatoon has started the spring sweeping and pothole repair programs a few weeks early.
The “Spring Blitz” sweeping program started a couple weeks ago and will continue for another five weeks. It focuses on removing the bulk of leftover sand and debris from the main roads and highways.
Transportation & utilities general manager Jeff Jorgenson says the sweeping blitz will considerably decrease the dust and improve air quality in the city.
During this time residents won’t have to move their cars. However, when the city curb-to-curb program starts, that’s when parking enforcement will be applied and you’ll begin to see those bright yellow signs pop up around the city.
If weather cooperates the city-wide sweep is expected to start May 1 and last for six weeks.
READ MORE: Video shows the need for road repairs in Saskatoon
Prior to that on April 11, road maintenance crews will also begin a pothole blitz where they’ll use a more permanent hot asphalt mix.
“So far this year we have been using cold mix asphalt to repair potholes. But starting on April 11th, we will have hot mix asphalt and eight pothole patching crews working throughout the city on a priority basis. Repairing potholes on a permanent basis,” says Jorgenson.
Below is a summary of the City of Saskatoon’s snow and ice management costs for the winters of 2014-15 and 2015-16 ending in February:
October 1, 2014 – February 28, 2015 $9,149,329.00
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October 1, 2015 – February 29, 2016 $6,884,486.00
Winter 2014-15 over winter 2015-16 $2,264,843.00
2014 to 2015 winter road maintenance results:
- Removed more than 13,000 tandem truckloads of snow
- Applied more than 25,000 tonnes of sand
- Used more than 120 tonnes of cold mix asphalt used to temporarily repair potholes
2015 to 2016 winter road maintenance results:
- Removed 4,524 tandem truckloads of snow
- Applied 11,000 tonnes of sand, 5,500 tonnes of caliber blend sand, 4,090 tonnes of salt and 132 tonnes of caliber pre wet liquid
- Used 305 tonnes of cold mix asphalt to temporarily repair potholes and utility cuts
The increase in cold mix asphalt is due to the numerous freeze and thaw cycles experienced over the winter.
Residents are encouraged to report potholes with the Report-a-Pothole interactive map on the city’s website. It’ll be available Monday, April 4. Potholes reported online will be prioritized based on their size, depth and location. Those that cause the most safety concern to drivers will be repaired first.
WATCH BELOW: See what it takes to make a pothole happen in a road
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