Calgary crews repair record number of potholes thanks to new tool
The City of Calgary is crediting a new tool with helping crews complete a record number of pothole repairs this year.
As of mid-November, the city had filled 35,864 potholes, exceeding the previous record of 33,000 set in 2023.
At least part of the reason so many of problem spots were fixed is because of the city's new mobile infrared asphalt heater, which crews acquired over the summer.
The machine warms the surface of the road using infrared heating, helping create a seamless bond between the new asphalt and the existing pavement.
"The results can include a smoother surface between repair and road, and potentially longer-lasting repairs, which in turn improves the overall quality and durability of the road surface," explained the city in a news release.
"This machine is intended to be used for smaller repairs, but is expected to provide superior quality repairs when compared with traditional pothole repair methods."
Calgary pothole repairs have been aided by a new infrared asphalt heater. (City of Calgary handout) This heater also allows crews to repair sections of roadway quickly using reclaimed asphalt.
As such, it negates the need for traditional repair materials like hot tar, which means not only can the work be done with fewer materials, but fewer pieces of equipment and less staff.
Repairs still underway
Because of the unseasonably warm fall weather, crews are continuing to fill potholes at a swift pace.
Calgarians are encouraged to report potholes by calling 311 or using the city's mobile app.
Once reported, the potholes are added to the city's maintenance lists and are filled based on factors such as road use and pothole severity.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Canada's jobless rate jumps to near 8-year high of 6.8% in November
Canada's unemployment rate rose more than expected to 6.8 per cent in November, a near-eight-year high excluding the pandemic years, even as the economy added a net 50,500 jobs, data showed on Friday, likely boosting chances of a large interest rate cut next week.
3 climbers from the U.S. and Canada are believed to have died in a fall on New Zealand's highest peak
Three mountain climbers — two from the U.S. and one from Canada — missing for five days on Aoraki, New Zealand's tallest peak, are believed to have died in a fall, the authorities said Friday.
Salmonella cucumber recalls include products that may not be labelled: CFIA
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has published an expanded pair of recalls for cucumbers over risks of salmonella contamination.
NEW Canada set to appoint Arctic ambassador, open new consulates as part of new Arctic Foreign Policy
Canada will appoint a new Arctic Ambassador and open two new consulates in the region to help deal with what it calls changing geopolitical dynamics in the Arctic, as part of its newly launched Arctic Foreign Policy.
Purolator, UPS pause shipments from couriers amid Canada Post strike
Purolator and UPS have paused shipments from some courier companies as they try to work through a deluge of deliveries brought on by the Canada Post strike.
Jasper family reunites with cat missing 100 days in the wilderness
Nicole Klopfenstein's four-year-old black and white tabby survived in the wilderness for more than 100 days after a ferocious wildfire forced the evacuation of the Rocky Mountain town of Jasper, Alta., this summer.
DEVELOPING Police scour New York for suspect two days after UnitedHealth executive gunned down
Armed with a growing file of clues, New York police on Friday were scouring surveillance videos and asking the public for help in their search for the masked assailant who gunned down a UnitedHealth executive on a Midtown Manhattan sidewalk.
opinion How will the weak Canadian dollar affect your holiday and travel plans?
As the Canadian dollar loses ground against major global currencies, personal finance contributor Christopher Liew explains how current exchange rates can impact your travel plans, and shares tips to help you plan smarter and protect your wallet.
The world has been warming faster than expected. Scientists now think they know why
Last year was the hottest on record, oceans boiled, glaciers melted at alarming rates, and it left scientists scrambling to understand exactly why.