City of Barrie reports one of the worst pothole season yet
As the temperature rises in Barrie, so does the return of an annual nuisance, pothole season.
The unseasonably mild weather this February has motorists once again grappling with the aftermath of freeze-thaw cycles wreaking havoc on the roads.
"I try to avoid it, but it's hard. I try, and if you're holding a coffee, it's really all over the place," said Barrie resident Pearl Chow.
The City of Barrie reminds drivers that the roller coaster weather conditions this winter has created the perfect receipt for potholes.
City crews are out this week, filling in as many as they can.
"We usually get told to load up and go on a seek and destroy mission to try and find all the potholes," says road crew worker Christian Dean.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
The City uses a hot and cold mix to fill the holes.
Crews work to fill potholes on a street in Barrie, Ont., on Thurs., Feb. 22, 2024. (CTV News/Rob Cooper)
"We're busy. We have two crews out during the day time, and they're putting down about a ton of asphalt replacement every time they go out, and then during the evenings, we've got two or three crews going out as well doing the same thing," says Craig Morton with the City of Barrie.
Last year, the City filled just over 12,000 potholes, and that number could rise by the end of this year.
Tire repair shops have been flooded with people reporting bent or damaged rims and tires.
"Pretty much every day we will get a rim repair in," says Chantelle Vroom with Superior Tire and Auto in Barrie.
Residents can notify the City of Barrie about street potholes online or by calling Service Barrie.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ontario to ban use of cellphones in school classrooms starting in September
Ontario is introducing a suite of measures that will crack down on cellphone use and vaping in schools.
'Do not consume': Gift Chocolate recalled due to undeclared milk, soy
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall for a specific chocolate brand sold in Ontario and Quebec.
Kitchener family says their 10-year-old needs life-saving drug that cost $600,000
Raneem, 10, lives with a neurological condition and liver disease and needs Cholbam, a medication, for a longer and healthier life.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Murder charge laid after man falls to death from Toronto apartment balcony
One person has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a man who fell from a balcony following an altercation inside a Toronto apartment building.
Dozens in Italy give a fascist salute on the anniversary of Mussolini's execution
Dozens of people raised their arms in the fascist salute and shouted a fascist chant during ceremonies Sunday to honor Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on the 79th anniversary of his execution.
Zendaya tennis movie ‘Challengers’ scores at weekend box office
Zendaya and castmates Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor have been on a globetrotting press tour to get the word out about Italian director Luca Guadagnino's original film, which opened in 3,477 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Quebec to invest $603 million to protect the French language
Quebec will invest $603 million over five years to counter the decline of French in the province, French Language Minister Jean-Francois Roberge announced Sunday.
Nicole Kidman, who 'makes movies better,' gets AFI Life Achievement Award
Morgan Freeman spoke the words, but pretty much everyone who took the stage at the presentation of the AFI Life Achievement Award agreed: "Nicole Kidman. She makes movies better."