More Potholes, More Spending: City Provides Summer Road Maintenance Update
Saskatoon drivers navigating the city's pothole-riddled streets can expect significant improvements in the coming weeks as crews ramp up repair efforts, according to city officials.
Roadways manager Cam LeClaire reported that the city has received reports of more than 3,700 potholes so far this year, more than double the number at the same time last year. The surge is attributed to the freeze-thaw cycle experienced earlier this spring.
Approximately 13 road crews are deployed daily, and since hot-mix asphalt became available at the beginning of the month, about 400 tonnes have been used. In 2025, the city used roughly 2,200 tonnes of asphalt for road repairs, and officials expect to exceed that this year.
LeClaire noted that asphalt prices have risen due to inflation, but the city has a contract that renews annually or biannually to help control costs. He declined to provide exact cost comparisons.
Road maintenance accounts for about 9.13% of general expenditures in the 2026 budget. The city spent $53,951,200 in 2024 against a budget of $53,699,600. The budget increased to $59,340,200 in 2025 and is set to rise further to $64,336,300 in 2026 and $68,607,900 in 2027.
LeClaire advised residents whose vehicles have been damaged by potholes to file claims on the city's website. Large potholes that cannot be fixed immediately may be marked with pylons as warnings. Emergency potholes—those about 60 centimetres in size on any street or a foot in diameter in high-traffic areas—are addressed within 24 to 72 hours. Fixing a pothole typically takes 15 to 30 minutes.
Saskatoon has a long history of pothole problems. A 1979 StarPhoenix article noted that 20,000 tonnes of asphalt were used in 1978 for road maintenance. In 1968, Westview residents complained to city council about poor road conditions, with potholes so deep that children caught tadpoles and played with toy boats in the muddy water.
The city encourages residents to stay informed via the Afternoon Headlines newsletter and to bookmark thestarphoenix.com for updates.
