THUNDER BAY — After dodging potholes that seemed to pop up all over Thunder Bay last winter and spring, many city motorists no doubt are hoping pavement deterioration doesn't happen on such a big scale this year.
During this long spell of mild weather, city road crews are being assigned to keep an eye out for problem areas and to make repairs when potholes develop.
"With the warmer weather, pothole crews have been out and about for the last week-and-a-half, and we also have the Python out, and we are also focusing on the priority routes," city roads manager Ian Spoljarich said Wednesday.
Priority areas include arterial collector roads, bus routes, and roads leading to schools, hospitals, and nursing homes.
The Python 5000 machine was acquired by the city in late 2017. It uses air pressure to remove debris from a pothole before dispensing fresh asphalt and flattening it with a roller.
City officials have cited its cost-effectiveness and efficiency, as it's operated by only one person, who never has to leave the vehicle's cab.
Asked if there's already a large number of potholes to deal with this winter, Spojarich replied, "It's kind of a tough question to answer, but there's definitely some out there that we need to take care of. Right now we're focusing on the larger holes. Some of the smaller ones will have to wait until the spring, when we have the hot mix [asphalt]."
He noted that in the winter months crews typically wait to do patching between snowfalls, but that this was challenging last year because of the frequency of snow events.
"As long as the weather stays warm, the roads aren't too wet and there isn't too much ice in the holes, it definitely gives us a chance to fill them," Spoljarich said.
