Windsor’s pothole problem: why the region gets hit harder and what’s being done about it

Lots of potholes are popping up around Windsor. CTV Windsor’s Travis Fortnum finds out what the city is doing about them.

It’s that time of year again — when Windsor drivers find themselves dodging potholes as they navigate city streets, but what many may not realize is that Windsor’s climate makes the city especially prone to these road hazards.

“We are in an extremely unique situation,” said Phong Nguy, acting public works manager for the City of Windsor.

“We enjoy the warmth, but with that, there’s a lot of freeze-thaw cycles … which is extremely stressful for our road.”

Those fluctuating temperatures cause moisture to seep into cracks in the pavement, where it freezes, expands, and weakens the road surface.

As vehicles drive over these vulnerable spots, potholes break open and grow.

And with roads breaking apart, so too are vehicles.

“It can go as small as throwing your alignment — $150 — or damage a control arm or strut or a tie rod,” said Peter Solly, owner of MacDonald’s Automotive Super Centre.

“That could be $1,000, $2,000, even $3,000 or $4,000, depending on how hard you hit it and where the impact took place.”

Solly and his staff have been working non-stop, as more and more vehicles roll in needing repairs from pothole damage.

“It’s really busy right now. I guess it’s a perfect storm for potholes,” he said.

“I’m sure it’ll get busier in the spring too.”

Windsor’s Public Works Department is working to keep up with the growing number of potholes, addressing road damage throughout the year.

“We are year-round, and especially during the winter,” Nguy said.

“We actually have to shift day and night.”

Windsor has also turned to artificial intelligence to help crews stay ahead of the problem.

“We actually are leading the pack on AI,” Nguy said.

“The majority of our potholes are actually scouted out by AI. So we will have [a] scouter that drives around, and the technology is actually picking up where the deficiency or the potholes are. And that will actually translate into the necessary area for us to fix.”

Still, Solly says drivers need to stay vigilant.

“Have your eyes peeled extra sharp when you’re driving,” he said.

“Because now you got something else to deal with that wasn’t there before. So try to avoid them — save yourself some money.”

Residents can report potholes to the city by calling 311.