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Cranbrook, BC (March 6, 2024) – Roadways right across Cranbrook are experiencing a tougher than usual late winter due to frequent and repeated freeze thaw cycles. 

Public Works has been filling some of the same potholes daily only to have them fail after the nighttime freezing. With no major snow events in the forecast, Public Works will be moving staff from the snow removal team starting March 11, 2024, to focus on infrastructure repairs. One afternoon shift will remain on for street sweeping operations.

Like many other jurisdictions, the City has tried various winter patching materials over the years but none of them hold up well to heavy traffic loads and the type of moisture conditions we are seeing. Even if the patches only last a day or two, it is the City’s responsibility to keep up the patching work to maintain safe passage until a longer-term repair can be completed. 

Public Works uses its work order management software to track the worst areas such that major repairs and resurfacing budgets target the sections of road that are causing the most maintenance issues.

Staff are currently reviewing the areas that are failing under these continued freeze thaw conditions and are looking to prioritize the streets that will be slated for reconstruction or major repairs in early 2024. Priorities will be based on severity of failure, road classification, emergency vehicle routes and other criteria to ensure the highest priority failures are addressed first.

The City is regularly monitoring overall road strength with seasonal load restrictions on City streets, which has been in effect since February 13, 2024, closely following regional road restriction notices put in place by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. These load restrictions are meant to alleviate the impact of the heaviest commercial and industrial traffic during the time when the road structure is at its weakest, typically just after the frost comes out of the ground and the soils remain very saturated.

You can help staff stay on top of the necessary pothole repairs by reporting them using the 311 app or by phoning 311.