Fluctuating temperatures causing potholes in Kelowna, city says – Okanagan | 24CA News
Okanagan residents have seen their share of climate situations within the final month and it’s beginning to have extra extended results on the roads.
Potholes are displaying up on metropolis streets a lot sooner than in years previous.
The fluctuating temperatures seen within the Okanagan in current weeks haven’t been useful.
“The freeze, thaw, freeze, thaw is really hard on roads. Probably one of the biggest contributing factors to accelerated asphalt damage,” stated City of Kelowna roadways operations supervisor Andrew Schwerdtfeger.
When temperatures have been nearer to -20 C, the roads have been frozen strong, which helped the City of Kelowna in coping with potholes. However, that adjustments when it begins to heat up.
“Standing water, whenever the water can’t make it to the catch basins — we get pawning on the road and then traffic pounding through that water separates the asphalt layers,” Schwerdtfeger stated.
“That’s the beginning step of a pothole and then it just breaks down as traffic hits it over and over and over.”
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There remains to be snow and ice alongside many metropolis streets however Schwerdtfeger says that received’t cease roadway crews from attending to the extra pressing ruts.
“Just given the nature of vehicle damage and safety, if they get to a certain size, we’ll drop everything and go fix them right away or at least fill them in with asphalt millings,” he stated.
“Potholes are definitely a priority but we’re balancing plowing the roads and potholes at this time of year and it’s the same crews doing both.”
The metropolis has acquired 20 requests within the final 60 days to restore the craters, nevertheless, some received’t be mounted till the spring.
“We have been responding to those as we get time when we’re not plowing the roads. Right now, we have four open service requests that are outstanding,” stated Schwerdtfeger.
Residents can report areas that require pothole patching or upkeep via the City of Kelowna’s web site.
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